This paper presents and examines Andrew Baxter’s theory of the origin of dreams. In an essay of over 200 pages, he explores various conceptions and accounts of dreaming, develops a distinctive and elaborate theory of their occurrence, and arrives at the striking conclusion that all dreams are produced by external spirits or immaterial (ghost-like) agents. Remarkably, this extraordinary...
Thomas Reid has a theory of consciousness that is central to his philosophy of mind but which raises a regress problem. I have two tasks in this paper. The first is to give an account of Reid's views on consciousness and the avoidance of the regress based on textual analysis. The second is to expand the theory of consciousness Reid gives to offer a deeper explanation of how the regress is...
James Frederick Ferrier developed his philosophy from a common sense background. However, his rejection of common sense philosophy in particular and Enlightenment philosophy in general results in the development of a system of idealism. In his series of lectures ‘An Introduction to the Philosophy of Consciousness - Parts I to VII’, which appeared in Blackwoods Magazine (1838–39), he outlines...