Welcome to a collection of insightful quotes by Thomas Reid, a prominent figure in the Scottish Enlightenment and a key figure in the development of philosophy. Born in 1710 in Strachan, Kincardineshire, Reid made significant contributions to various fields, including epistemology, ethics, and philosophy of mind. His ideas challenged the prevailing philosophical trends of his time, particularly the skepticism of David Hume, whom he sought to refute through his own theories of common sense and direct realism.
Reid’s philosophy emphasized the importance of common sense in understanding the world around us. He argued against the notion that knowledge is solely derived from sensory experience, advocating instead for the innate principles of understanding that guide human perception and cognition. His work laid the groundwork for the development of modern foundationalism and played a crucial role in shaping subsequent philosophical thought. Through his writings, Reid sought to establish a more robust framework for understanding human consciousness and the nature of reality itself. Below, you will find a selection of Thomas Reid’s quotes that capture the essence of his philosophical insights and perspectives.
And, if we have any evidence that the wisdom which formed the plan is in the man, we have the very same evidence, that the power which executed it is in him also. Thomas Reid
Every indication of wisdom, taken from the effect, is equally an indication of power to execute what wisdom planned. Thomas Reid
The rules of navigation never navigated a ship. The rules of architecture never built a house. Thomas Reid
It is a question of fact, whether the influence of motives be fixed by laws of nature, so that they shall always have the same effect in the same circumstances. Thomas Reid
But when, in the first setting out, he takes it for granted without proof, that distinctions found in the structure of all languages, have no foundation in nature; this surely is too fastidious a way of treating the common sense of mankind. Thomas Reid
A philosopher is, no doubt, entitled to examine even those distinctions that are to be found in the structure of all languages… in that case, such a distinction may be imputed to a vulgar error, which ought to be corrected in philosophy. Thomas Reid
There is no greater impediment to the advancement of knowledge than the ambiguity of words. Thomas Reid