Publisher's Synopsis
Essays on The Active Powers of the Human Mind is a philosophical work by Thomas Reid that explores the nature of the human mind and its active powers. Reid's inquiry is based on the principle of common sense, which he believes is the foundation of all knowledge. The book is divided into two parts, with the first part focusing on the nature of the human mind and its active powers, such as perception, memory, and imagination. Reid argues that these powers are innate and essential to human experience. He also discusses the role of language in shaping our understanding of the world and the limitations of our cognitive abilities.The second part of the book explores the relationship between the mind and the body, as well as the concept of free will. Reid argues that the mind and body are distinct entities that interact with each other, and that free will is a necessary component of human agency.Overall, Essays on The Active Powers of the Human Mind is a significant work in the history of philosophy, as it challenges many of the prevailing ideas of Reid's time and lays the groundwork for later developments in cognitive psychology and neuroscience.1843. Thomas Reid was one of the most daring and original thinkers of the eighteenth century. His work became the cornerstone of the Scottish School of Common Sense Philosophy, and was highly influential in nineteenth-century America; it also anticipated the thinking of such twentieth-century figures as Moore and Wittgenstein. Essays on the Active Powers of the Human Mind expounds the Reidian theory of moral agency. The edition also includes some of Reid's correspondence, a biography by his disciple Dugald Stewart, and twenty-seven supplementary dissertations by Sir William Hamilton.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
