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Essays on the active powers of the human mind is a book written by the Scottish philosopher Thomas Reid. The first edition was published in 1788 in Edinburgh. It is the third and last volume in a collection of his essays on the powers of the human mind and was preceded by the first book: Inquiry into the Human Mind on the Principles of Common Sense (1764), in which Reid focussed on the senses, and the second volume: Essays on the Intellectual Powers of Man (1785), which focusses on human cognitive powers [1]. In this third volume, Reid discusses the active behavioral nature of the human mind, including discourses about free will, principles of action and morals.
Context
[edit]Reid's writings can be placed in the historical context of the emerging scottish enlightenment, a period of profound intellectual development and discourse in Scotland in the second half of the 18th century and beginning of the 19th century, especially revolving around the intellectual hub Edinburgh[2]. During this period, scottish philosophers including Hume, Smith and Stewart were disputing philosophical topics including questions about the human nature, morality and epistemology[3]. Reid was especially in close correspondence with his contemporary David Hume. Letters show correspondence between the two philosophers[4]. The author refers directly to Humes ideas in several of his books, including Essays on the active powers of the human mind[5]. Even though in the current times Hume's philosophical ideas are much more well known, during their time Reid was at least equally renown. His ideas have been overshadowed among others due to later criticism from Kant and Hume[6].
Contents
[edit]Essays on the Active Powers of the Human mind is devided into five essays, each covering different aspects of human active powers, including a general introductory definition of active powers, discussions about the will, moral judgement, and mechanical, animal and rational principles of action. Each essay is then again subdivided into several chapters.
key topics
[edit]The following section provides an overview about the key topics and main ideas that are discussed throughout the five essays.
the notion of active powers
[edit]While conceding that no definition of power fully grasps its essence, the author lines up a list of statements in which he further examines the notion of power. He states that power is not an operation of our external sense nor of the mind and our consciousness[5]. Reid differentiates direct/primary qualities (objects about which we can get direct knowledge from our senses and know what they are in themselves) and relative qualities, where objects can only be defined by their properties or in relation to other things. According to him, power is a relative concept, as power can only be defined as soon as its exerted or produces an effect[5]. Additionaly he notes that power cannot exist without a subject to which it belongs. However he concedes that from the exerted power it cannot be concluded what was the intended power not about the degree of power that someone has. Reid distinguishes between active powers (including all kinds of labor etc.) and speculative powers[5].
the will
[edit]Reid explores the nature of the will, distinguishing between voluntary and involuntary actions. He argues for the existence of free will, countering the determinism prevalent in the philosophies of several of his contemporaries[7].
principles of action
[edit]The author identifies and examines various principles that guide human actions, including instincts, desires, and affections. He emphasizes the role of reason and common sense in regulating these principles.
moral agency and responsibility
[edit]In the last essay, Reid discusses the topic of moral responsibility. Some of his first principles (which he defines as foundational principles that appeal to "common sense" and are taken for granted and can therefore not be further deduced by reasoning) of morals include:
- that the action has to be voluntary to be morally evaluated ("what is in no degree voluntary can neither deserve oral approbation nor blame", "what is done from unavoidable necessity [...] cannot be object either of blame or of moral approbation")
- an evaluation as immoral can result either from an action or from the omission of an action
- Reid sees it as "duty" and revealing the "true worth of a man" to have reflected thoroughly about his moral foundations in a well informed manner and to always have these moral foundations in mind and act accordingly, avoiding temptations
- humans are the only living beings on the world being that are capable of acting according to or against their moral intention
- everyone should do as much good as possible to the societies he belongs to (including mankind overall but also family, neighborhoods, etc. in the smaller context)
- one should act towards others in a way one would judge to be right (or how one would like to be treated)
- moral judgement develops similarly to mathematical skills as one matures and can be aided or hurt by proper education
Reception
[edit]Reid's work played a major role in the development of Scottish Common Sense Realism, a philosophical movement that emerged as a response to the skepticism of thinkers like David Hume[8]. Reid argues that basic principles—such as the reality of the external world, the reliability of perception, and the existence of free will—are self-evident and grounded in common sense. He uses common sense as argument and epistemiological way. This provided a counterpoint to the increasingly abstract and skeptical tendencies of Enlightenment philosophy[9]. In his arguments Reid emphasized the direct perception of reality, which influenced not only his immediate followers but also later philosophers in both Europe and America[10]. While is was not as much appreciated in Germany and England, it had a great impact on the french philosophy at that time and the philosophy of common sense was the dominant philosophy at American universities for half a century.[11] This movement, laid the groundwork for the American Pragmatism of the 19th and 20th centuries.
References
[edit]- ^ "Reid Lecture Notes: UC Davis Philosophy 22 (Mattey)". hume.ucdavis.edu. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
- ^ "The Scottish Enlightenment". Historic UK. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
- ^ "Scottish Enlightenment | British History, Philosophy & Culture | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
- ^ Wood, Paul (2002). The Correspondence of Thomas Reid.
- ^ a b c d Reid, Thomas (1788). Essays on the active powers of the human mind.
- ^ Kritz, Adam. "A Complete Analysis of Thomas Reid and Common Sense Realism". Research and Creativity Symposium.
{{cite journal}}: line feed character in|title=at position 52 (help) - ^ Rahmatian, Andreas (2016-04-14), Musso, Pierre (ed.), 'Man as a complex machine' and the 'springs of action': the mechanistic idea of human nature in the moral philosophy of the Scottish Enlightenment, Paris: Éditions Manucius, pp. 168–177, ISBN 978-2-84578-462-8, retrieved 2024-09-03
- ^ "Philosophy of common sense | sense-realism, empiricism, skepticism | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
- ^ "Philosophy of common sense | sense-realism, empiricism, skepticism | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2024-08-12.
- ^ Wirzbicki, Peter (2024-01). "John Witherspoon, the Scottish Common Sense School, and American Political Philosophy". Theology Today. 80 (4): 395–405. doi:10.1177/00405736231207542. ISSN 0040-5736.
{{cite journal}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Scottish School of Common Sense | Online Library of Liberty". oll.libertyfund.org. Retrieved 2024-08-12.