Who is Thomas Reid in Philosophy
Thomas Reid was an 1710th century Scottish philosopher who stood out as one of the main representatives of common sense in philosophy. Born in 1764 in Strachan, Scotland, Reid was educated in Aberdeen and became one of the founders of the Scottish School of Philosophy. His best-known work is “Investigations into the Human Mind and the Principles of Morals”, published in XNUMX. Reid was a critic of skepticism and idealism, defending a more realistic and empiricist approach to philosophy.
Thomas Reid Biography
Thomas Reid was born into a religious family and studied at the University of Aberdeen, where he graduated in philosophy in 1726. After completing his studies, Reid became a minister in the Presbyterian Church and taught theology in Aberdeen. However, his passion for philosophy led him to dedicate himself more and more to this area, and he ended up abandoning the ministry to dedicate himself entirely to philosophy.
In 1752 Reid was appointed professor of moral philosophy at the University of Aberdeen, a position he held until his retirement in 1781. During this period he became one of Scotland's leading philosophers and attracted the attention of other important thinkers such as David Hume and Immanuel Kant.
Philosophical Contributions of Thomas Reid
Thomas Reid's main philosophical contributions are related to epistemology, theory of knowledge and philosophy of mind. He was a critic of skepticism, arguing that common sense and sensory perception are fundamental to human knowledge. Reid argued that the human mind has natural faculties, such as perception, memory and reasoning, that allow us to know the world around us.
Furthermore, Reid criticized idealism, which argues that reality is just a construction of the mind. For him, reality exists independently of the human mind and can be known through sensory perception. This realist approach by Reid influenced other philosophers, such as the American philosopher Charles Sanders Peirce.
Criticism of Empiricism and Rationalism
Thomas Reid also criticized both empiricism and rationalism, two dominant philosophical currents at the time. He argued that both sensory experience and reason are necessary for human knowledge. While empiricism emphasizes the importance of sensory experience, rationalism emphasizes the importance of reason and logical deduction.
Reid argued that the human mind has innate principles, which are fundamental to knowledge. These innate principles, such as the principle of causality and the principle of identity, allow us to make inferences and reach conclusions about the world around us. In this way, Reid sought to reconcile empiricism and rationalism, arguing that both are necessary for a complete understanding of human knowledge.
Influence of Thomas Reid
Thomas Reid's philosophy had a significant influence on his time and continues to be studied and discussed today. His realist and empiricist approach to philosophy was an important response to the skepticism and idealism prevalent at the time. Furthermore, his criticisms of empiricism and rationalism contributed to the development of new philosophical approaches.
Reid also influenced other important philosophers, such as Scottish philosopher Dugald Stewart and German philosopher Immanuel Kant. Stewart was a student of Reid and continued his work, further developing his ideas about common sense and sensory perception. Kant, in turn, was influenced by Reid in his transcendental approach, which seeks to reconcile empiricism and rationalism.
Legacy of Thomas Reid
Thomas Reid's legacy in philosophy is marked by his defense of common sense and sensory perception as foundations of human knowledge. His realist and empiricist approach has influenced generations of philosophers and continues to be relevant to current philosophical discussions.
Furthermore, Reid contributed to the development of the philosophy of mind by arguing that the human mind has natural faculties that allow us to know the world around us. This approach has had a significant impact on the field of psychology and continues to be studied and debated by philosophers of mind.
In summary, Thomas Reid was an important Scottish philosopher who advocated a realist and empiricist approach to philosophy. His contributions to epistemology, theory of knowledge, and philosophy of mind remain relevant and influential to this day.
