Chapter IX - Common Sense

Summary

Reid's philosophy became known far and wide as “Common Sense Philosophy.” That was its great misfortune. Which philosopher – except for Reid himself and a handful of his followers – wishes to be known among his fellow philosophers as a philosopher of common sense? Recall Kant's caustic comments in the Introduction to his Prolegomena to Any Future Metaphysics:

It is indeed a great gift of God to possess … plain common sense. But this common sense must be shown in action by well-considered and reasonable thoughts and words, not by appealing to it as an oracle when no rational justification for one's position can be advanced. To appeal to common sense when insight and science fail, and no sooner – this is one of the subtile discoveries of modern times, by means of which the most superficial ranter can safely enter the lists with the most thorough thinker and hold his own. But as long as a particle of insight remains, no one would think of having recourse to this subterfuge. Seen clearly, it is but an appeal to the opinion of the multitude, of whose applause the philosopher is ashamed, while the popular charlatan glories and boasts in it.

It was not by some accident of history that Reid's philosophy came to be known as “Common Sense Philosophy.” What Reid himself called “common sense” had central place in his philosophy. Or rather, his followers at the time regarded it as having central place; whether Reid himself so regarded it is much less clear.