Thomas Reid Quotes
Thomas Reid was a Scottish philosopher and the founder of the Scottish school of Common Sense. He developed his philosophy in critical reaction to the empiricist tradition of Locke, Berkeley, and Hume, arguing that their theory of ideas led inevitably to a skepticism that violated the convictions on which all human action depends. The quotes below are attributed to Thomas Reid, organized by topic.
Thomas Reid on Freedom
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Attributed to Thomas Reid:
“If there is no liberty, there is no morality.”
Thomas Reid on Knowledge
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Attributed to Thomas Reid:
“There is no greater impediment to the advancement of knowledge than the ambiguity of words.”
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Attributed to Thomas Reid:
“All reasoning must be from first principles; and for first principles no other reason can be given but this, that, by the constitution of our nature, we are under a necessity of assenting to them.”
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Attributed to Thomas Reid:
“Common sense is the foundation of all reasoning and of all science.”
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Attributed to Thomas Reid:
“It is folly to attempt to confound first principles with conclusions.”