Dugald Stewart

Dugald Stewart 1753-1828, Scottish philosopher. He studied at the Univ. of Edinburgh, later becoming professor of mathematics (1775-85) and of moral philosophy (1785-1810). After retiring he devoted himself to writing. A student of Thomas Reid and strongly influenced by him, Stewart is credited with aiding in the forming of the Scottish school of philosophy. His work was largely an exposition of Reid's philosophy, accepting the existence of the external world and applying the principle of common sense to the problems of philosophy. An eloquent lecturer and a brilliant writer, he is noted for these abilities rather than for any original philosophical development. Among his works are Outlines of Moral Philosophy (1793), Elements of the Philosophy of the Human Mind (3 vol., 1792-1827), and Philosophical Essays (1810).

Bibliography: See his collected works ed. by Sir William Hamilton (1854-58), with a biography by J. Vietch.

Stewart, Dugald (1753–1828). Philosopher. Son of a distinguished mathematician, Stewart studied under Adam Ferguson, Thomas Reid, and AdamSmith. He was professor of moral philosophy at Edinburgh 1785–1820. A noted lecturer and teacher, Stewart's classes drew huge audiences and shaped the intellectual world of a rising generation of young Whig politicians. His philosophy was a critical distillation of the philosophy of the Scottish Enlightenment. The Edinburgh Review, founded by his pupils, was an indirect but important monument to his teaching.

Stewart, Dugald (1753–1828). Philosopher. Son of a distinguished mathematician, Stewart studied under Adam Ferguson, Thomas Reid, and Adam Smith. He was professor of moral philosophy at Edinburgh 1785–1820. A noted lecturer and teacher, Stewart's classes drew huge audiences and shaped the intellectual world of a rising generation of young Whig politicians. His philosophy was a critical distillation of the metaphysical and moral philosophy of the Scottish Enlightenment. His metaphysics were shaped by Reid's critique of Hume's scepticism, his moral philosophy by a critique of Smith. He gave an influential series of classes on Smith's political economy, which played an important part in disseminating that text. The Edinburgh Review, founded by his pupils, was an indirect but important monument to his teaching. His critical lives of Adam Smith, Thomas Reid, And William Robertson and a long critical dissertation on the progress of metaphysics since the Renaissance are notable early essays in the history of philosophy and have played a significant part in placing the philosophy of the Scottish Enlightenment in a historical perspective.

Nicholas Phillipson