Thomas Reid

Strachan, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, 1710 - 1796

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About MeFollowing in the footsteps of his father, Thomas Reid studied divinity and became minister at Newmachar, north of Aberdeen. But when he was offered a professorship at Aberdeen’s King’s College in 1752 he discovered his true calling as a philosopher.

During his time at King’s College Thomas was instrumental in placing emphasis on science in the curriculum and in encouraging greater exchange between Aberdeen’s two universities. He founded the Aberdeen Philosophical Society which encouraged debate on a wide range of natural and moral philosophy subjects. In 1764 he published An Inquiry Into the Human Mind on the Principles of Common Sense which challenged the work of many of his predecessors.

Thomas played an important role in the Scottish Enlightenment, famously challenging the views of fellow philosopher, David Hume. He later became Professor of Philosophy at the University of Glasgow, filling the role previously held by Adam Smith, known as the Father of Capitalism.
Additional InfoImage Attribution: http://www.abcgallery.com/R/raeburn/raeburn4.html, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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