Scottish philosopher Thomas Reid died in Glasgow on 7 October 1796, aged 86. A leading figure in the Scottish Enlightenment, he founded the Scottish school of Common Sense philosophy.

Reid began his working life in the Church of Scotland before moving into academic life at King’s College, Aberdeen. There, he helped found the Aberdeen Philosophical Society, commonly known as the Wise Club.

He published Inquiry into the Human Mind on the Principles of Common Sense in 1764. Reid challenged the sceptical conclusions associated with philosophers including David Hume. He argued that human reasoning begins with basic principles that people accept without proving them from something more fundamental.

In the same year, Reid moved to the University of Glasgow as Professor of Moral Philosophy, succeeding Adam Smith. He remained associated with Glasgow for the rest of his life, although he retired from regular teaching in 1780.

Retirement gave Reid more time to prepare his philosophy for publication. Essays on the Intellectual Powers of Man appeared in 1785, followed by Essays on the Active Powers of Man in 1788.

Reid’s Common Sense philosophy continued through other Scottish thinkers and became influential beyond Scotland.