1001Philosophers

Mary Shepherd 1777 – 1847

Mary Shepherd (1777 – 1847) was a Scottish philosopher of the Modern era, associated with Empiricism.

Lady Mary Shepherd was a Scottish philosopher and one of the most acute British metaphysicians of the early nineteenth century. The daughter of an Earl, she received an extensive private education in mathematics, science, and philosophy, and after her marriage and move to London she carried on serious philosophical exchange with figures including William Whewell and Charles Babbage. Her Essay upon the Relation of Cause and Effect and Essays on the Perception of an External Universe defended an a priori principle of causation against Hume's skepticism and a perceptual realism against Berkeleyan idealism. Long neglected, her work has been an important site of the recent recovery of women in early modern philosophy.

Key facts

Nationality
Scottish
Era
Modern
Movements
Empiricism

Selected quotes

  • Attributed to Mary Shepherd:

    “Every effect must have a cause that determines it.”

  • Attributed to Mary Shepherd:

    “What begins to be must owe its beginning to some prior power.”

  • Attributed to Mary Shepherd:

    “Hume's argument denies the very intelligibility of nature.”

  • Attributed to Mary Shepherd:

    “The mind perceives a real, external world, not a procession of impressions.”

  • Attributed to Mary Shepherd:

    “Reason gives knowledge of necessary connections that experience alone could not.”

Mary Shepherd by topic

Frequently asked about Mary Shepherd

When did Mary Shepherd live?
Mary Shepherd was born in 1777 and died in 1847.
Where was Mary Shepherd from?
Mary Shepherd was a Scottish philosopher of the Modern era.
What philosophical movements is Mary Shepherd associated with?
Mary Shepherd was associated with Empiricism.
What was Mary Shepherd known for?
Lady Mary Shepherd was a Scottish philosopher and one of the most acute British metaphysicians of the early nineteenth century.
How many quotes are attributed to Mary Shepherd?
There are 5 attributed quotations from Mary Shepherd in the 1001Philosophers collection, organized by topic.