How does Berkeley’s subjective idealism differ from solipsism?

While subjective idealism and solipsism are related, they are distinct philosophical positions. Subjective idealism is the theory that reality consists solely of minds and their perceptions, meaning material objects exist only as ideas within a perceiving mind. Solipsism, by contrast, is an extreme form of this view that asserts the individual mind has no valid ground to believe in the existence of anything other than itself.123

George Berkeley’s philosophy differs from solipsism in several key ways:

• Existence of Other Minds: Berkeley did not limit reality to his own individual self. He acknowledged the existence of other minds and spirits, as well as ideas that exist outside of any single human's personal perception.42
• The Role of God: Berkeley argued that objects continue to exist when not perceived by humans because they are constantly perceived by God. It is God’s ongoing perception that maintains the existence of the physical world, preventing it from being merely an intermittent or private experience.2
• Common Sense: Berkeley maintained that his philosophy aligned with common sense, affirming the reality of the world we perceive, rather than denying the existence of everything outside his own mind.25