Arthur Collier, an English clergyman, born at Langford Steeple, Wiltshire, in 1680, died in 1732. He was rector of Langford, a living which had belonged successively to his greatgrandfather, grandfather, and father. In 1713 he published a work entitled Glavis Universalis, maintaining the non-existence and the impossibility of the existence of any objects external to the mind. Berkeley had three years before advanced incidentally a similar theory, but the two philosophers appear to have had no knowledge of each other. Collier was inferior to his contemporary rather in the graces of composition than in acuteness or method; and yet, while Berkeley's publication produced a profound impression, the Clams Universalis attracted not the slightest attention in England. In Germany a copious and able abstract of its contents was given in 1717, in a supplemental volume of the Acta Eruditorum, and in 1756 a complete translation of it into German was made by Eschenbach. Thus rendered accessible in Germany, Collier has enjoyed among the thinkers of that country high repute for talent and originality.

The best view of hia doctrines, as compared with those of Berkeley, is that given by Tennemann. Reid was the first to call attention to the Clavis Universalis in England; and in 1837 it was published in London as part of the contents of a volume of metaphysical tracts, which had been prepared for the press by Dr. Parr. In the same year the memoirs of his life and writings, by Robert Benson, appeared in London. The Clavis was subsequently reprinted in Edinburgh. Other publications of Collier were the "Specimen of True Philosophy" (1713), the "Logology" (1732), and two controversial sermons. In religion he was an Arian, and also a high churchman on grounds which his associates could not understand.