Thomas Reid and the Defence of Duty - (Edinburgh Studies in Scottish Philosophy) by James Foster (Hardcover)

About the Book

Brings Thomas Reid into conversation with contemporary moral philosophy.

Book Synopsis

Is morality a subjective matter, dependent on our desires and interests, or are there objective moral truths? And if the latter, can we explain the objectivity of morality without appeal to metaphysics, a robust teleology or divine command?
This book argues that we find just such an account of moral objectivity in Thomas Reid's Defence of Duty. To make this case, the book provides an explanation of Reid's way of philosophy and his reasons for rejecting moral subjectivism; presents Reid's account of the concept, perception, and motivational force of duty; and responds to contemporary challenges of moral subjectivism and moral pessimism from the perspective of his moral philosophy. Further, this book argues that if Reid is correct, then there is an urgent need to reform current pedagogical practice and return to the teaching of practical ethics.

From the Back Cover

Brings Thomas Reid into conversation with contemporary moral philosophy Is morality a subjective matter, dependent on our desires and interests, or are there objective moral truths? And if the latter, can we explain the objectivity of morality without appeal to metaphysics, a robust teleology or divine command? James J. S Foster argues that we find such an account of moral objectivity in Thomas Reid's defence of duty. This book provides an explanation of Reid's way of philosophy and his reasons for rejecting moral subjectivism, presents Reid's account of the concept, perception and motivational force of duty, and responds to contemporary challenges of moral subjectivism and pessimism from the perspective of Reid's moral philosophy. By illustrating how Thomas Reid provides this compelling interpretation of moral objectivism - which is both metaphysically modest and chimes with lived experience - Foster concludes that if Reid is correct, then there is an urgent need to reform current pedagogical practice and return to the teaching of practical ethics. Key Features  Appeals to readers interested in Reid and Scottish philosophy; and to those broadly interested in moral philosophy  Draws from Reid's entire corpus, not just his major published works, including 'Some Thoughts on the Utopian System', his correspondence and 'Lectures on Practical Ethics'  Explains Reid's Baconian approach to moral philosophy  Discusses the implications of Reid's understanding of practical ethics and the limitations of speculative philosophy for moral education James J. S. Foster is Associate Professor of Philosophy and Theology and Director of the Honours Program at the University of Sioux Falls.

Review Quotes

The central thesis of James Foster's Thomas Reid and the Defence of Duty is that Reid was mostly right -- and Hume mostly wrong -- about the nature of right and wrong. Anyone who dogmatically denies the objectivity of moral distinctions ought to read Foster's book; it is lucid, lively and wise.

--Douglas McDermid, Trent University

About the Author

James J.S. Foster is Associate Professor of Philosophy and Theology and Director of the Honors Program at the University of Sioux Falls. His previously published two edited volumes, Scottish Philosophy in America (Imprint Academic, 2012) and Thomas Reid on Religion (Imprint Academic, 2017). He is also the editor of the Journal of Scottish Philosophy.