Thomas Reid’s Philosophy of Mind: Consciousness and Intentionality
Rebecca Copenhaver
Philosophy Compass May 1, 2006 DOI: 10.1111/j.1747-9991.2006.00023.x (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Philosophy of mind |
| Key points | Argues that Reid's theory of mind is sophisticated and contemporary, and that focusing solely on his epistemological ambitions overlooks it. Examines Reid's positions on mysterianism, direct realism in perception, and higher-order consciousness, engaging with secondary literature and noting points of interpretive disagreement. |
Abstract
Abstract Thomas Reid’s epistemological ambitions are decisively at the center of his work. However, if we take such ambitions to be the whole story, we are apt to overlook the theory of mind that Reid develops and deploys against the theory of ideas. Reid’s philosophy of mind is sophisticated and strikingly contemporary, and has, until recently, been lost in the shadow of his other philosophical accomplishments. Here I survey some aspects of Reid’s theory of mind that I find most interesting. I examine whether Reid is a mysterian about the mind, whether Reid has a direct realist theory of perception, and whether Reid has a higher‐order, or “inner‐sense,” view of consciousness. Along the way I will mention portions of the secondary literature that examine these aspects and point out whether and to what degree I part ways with the interpretations present in the literature.
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