Disturbers of the Peace
Disturbers of the Peace
It was An Essay on the Nature and Immutability of Truth; in opposition to Sophistry and Scepticism, a work that went through five editions between its first appearance in 1770 and the death of David Hume in 1776, which was chiefly responsible for disturbing the philosopher's tranquillity. The author, James Beattie, was a follower of the ‘Common Sense Philosophy’ that had been instituted in Scotland in 1764 by Thomas Reid, and which two years later had been applied by James Oswald in An Appeal to Common Sense in Behalf of Religion. Hume had exchanged amicable letters with Reid, but had completely ignored Oswald. Beattie was not to be ignored, however, for, unlike Hume's other ‘friendly Adversaries’ at Aberdeen, who treated the aging philosopher with the respect due a serious thinker, it was Beattie's intention to arouse the emotional prejudices of his readers.
Keywords: Essay, Nature, Sophistry, Scepticism, David Hume, James Beattie, Common Sense Philosophy, Scotland, Thomas Reid, James Oswald
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