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Thomas Reid

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Thomas Reid was an 18th-century Scottish philosopher who founded the Scottish School of Common Sense. He is best known for his rigorous critiques of the theories of ideas and the skepticism of his contemporary, David Hume. Reid argued that human beings are equipped with innate faculties and common sense principles that allow them to reliably perceive and interact with the world. His major works include 'An Inquiry into the Human Mind on the Principles of Common Sense' and 'Essays on the Intellectual Powers of Man'.

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What philosophical school did Thomas Reid found?

Reid founded the Scottish School of Common Sense, also known as common sense realism, in the 18th century. He argued that certain basic beliefs are self-evident and do not require philosophical proof, directly challenging the skeptical traditions of his contemporaries.

How did Thomas Reid respond to David Hume's skepticism?

Reid's major works, including An Inquiry into the Human Mind (1764) and Essays on the Intellectual Powers of Man (1785), were written as direct responses to Hume's skepticism. He argued that Hume's conclusions were absurd precisely because they contradicted the self-evident principles of common sense that underlie all reasoning.

What are Thomas Reid's most important books?

Reid's principal works are An Inquiry into the Human Mind on the Principles of Common Sense (1764), Essays on the Intellectual Powers of Man (1785), and Essays on the Active Powers of Man (1788). Together they form a comprehensive philosophy of mind and action grounded in common sense realism.

Where did Thomas Reid teach?

Reid taught at King's College in Aberdeen before being appointed to the Chair of Moral Philosophy at the University of Glasgow in 1764, succeeding Adam Smith. His lectures at Glasgow were influential in spreading common sense philosophy throughout Britain and America.