REID, Thomas, Scottish metaphysician: b. Strachan, Kincardineshire, 26 April 1710; d. Glasgow, 7 Oct. 1796. He was graduated at Marischal College, Aberdeen, in 1726, and in 1736 presented to the neighboring living of New Machar. It was his custom to preach the ser mons of Tillotson and Evans rather than his own compositions, for he was already chiefly absorbed in the study of metaphysics. In 1748 he published a paper in the London 'Philosoph ical Transactions,) in which he opposed the in troduction of mathematical formulas into meta physical and moral speculations, and particu larly criticized the statement of Hutcheson that the benevolence or moral merit of an agent is (proportional to a fraction having the moment of good for the numerator, and the ability of the agent for the denominator?) He was in 1752 elected professor of philosophy in King's College, his department comprehending logic, ethics, mathematics and physics. His 'Inquiry into the Human Mind on the Principles of Common Sense) (1764) aimed at the refutation of Hume skeptical theory. Affirming the im possibility of proving the existence of an ex ternal world from reason, or experience, or in struction, or habit, or any other principle hith erto known to philosophers, Reid introduced the doctrine of an original instinct or (common sense (q.v.) as the ground of the belief. In
1764 he was transferred to the University of Glasgow as successor to Adam Smith in the chair of moral philosophy. His course included metaphysics, moral philosophy, natural law and political right. He was a member of, a philo sophical society before which he read several essays, including an 'Examination of Dr. Priestley's Opinion Concerning Matter and Mind,) 'Observations on the Utopia of Sir Thomas More) and 'Physiological Reflections on Muscular In 1781 he withdrew from public duties to devote himself exclusively to philosophical studies. In 1785 he published 'Essays on the Intellectual Powers of Man,) consisting of his academical lectures, and in 1788 his 'Essays on the Active Powers of Man,' his last important work. An edition of his works with notes and dissertations was pre pared by Sir William Hamilton (incomplete, 1846). Consult the 'Life) by Dugald Stewart (1804) ; McCosh, 'Scottish Philosophy from Hutcheson to Hamilton) (1890) ; Sneath, 'The Philosophy of Reid) (1892).