Thomas Reid

Thomas Reid (1710-1796) was a Scottish philosopher, best known as the founder of the Scottish School of Common Sense. Born on April 26, 1710, in Strachan, Kincardineshire, he significantly contributed to the field of epistemology. Reid's major work, "An Inquiry into the Human Mind on the Principles of Common Sense" (1764), challenged the skepticism of David Hume by advocating that common sense underpins human perception and understanding. In 1752, Reid became the Professor of Philosophy at King's College in Aberdeen, where he co-founded the Aberdeen Philosophical Society. His other notable work, "Essays on the Intellectual Powers of Man" (1785), further developed his theories on perception, memory, and consciousness. Reid's clear, accessible writing and robust arguments against skepticism distinguished his philosophical contributions.