Peter, James and John
Peter James and John are men who represent an abstract idea of man. To say they are men is to create in the mind certain associative traits connected to maleness without the requirements of individualizing according to even to physical traits like skin color, height, build, etc. They are symbols of manhood, but more importantly and to the point they are symbols of the abstraction idea of manhood.
Schoolmen
The icons of Christian scholasticism here become symbols of the futility of chasing after abstractions in philosophical theorizing. The Schoolmen rationalized all abstract knowledge to fit their immutable belief in God with the inevitable result being the creation of more controversy than the solving of more questions. The text is an effort in part to reveal that no distinction exists between corporeal matter and abstract ideas because both are simply perception of ideas.
John Locke
The entire purpose behind Berkeley writing this text is to provide an answer and counterargument to theories expressed by John Locke in his Essay on Human Understanding. In forwarding his famous proposition that a division exists between ideas which can be experienced through senses and ideas which exist only as abstraction, Locke becomes the symbolic opposite to everything which Berkeley proceeds to argue for.
Tree in the Park
A quote from the text in which the author raises the theoretical argument against his own that if he can imagine trees in a park without there being anybody there to perceive those trees has been located as a possible origination point for the “if a tree falls in the forest” concept. Although not quite equal, a fundamental point is raised in both Berkeley’s actual construction and the more famous proposition and that point is whether something need to be seen (or heard) to be perceived. Berkeley counters the suggestion that one need not be in the park looking at a tree to perceive it; merely thinking the tree is there is enough. The tree in the park thus becomes Berkeley’s core symbol of his theory: everything we perceive is but an idea of its existence.
Human Will
In negating the concept of the human will forwarded by others contrary to his manner of thought, the human will is forwarded in symbolic terms as a ball. This ball is constantly being struck with rackets symbolizing objects which one experience through sensory contact, thus making the will subject to errors in judgment.
