Elements of the Philosophy of the Human Mind

Philadelphia: Willima Young , Bookseller, no. 52, Second street, the corner of Chesnut-Street, 1793. First American edition of his most important work and first book, originally published in London in 1792. xi, [1], [9]-500 pp. 8vo. Contemporary mottled calf, newly and inadvisedly rebacked, Signbed in a contemporary hand Nathan Sanford and on p[9]. First American edition of his most important work and first book, originally published in London in 1792. xi, [1], [9]-500 pp. 8vo. A disciple of Thomas Reid, Stewart's theory of morality was based upon Reid. He "upheld Reid's psychological method and expounded the 'common-sense' doctrine ... Unconsciously, however, he fell away from the pure Scottish tradition and made concessions both to moderate empiricism and to the French ideologists (Laromiguière, Cabanis and Destutt de Tracy.)" (Ency. Brit). He was most noted at a lecturer and much of his influence is attributed to those. In the chair of Moral Philosophy at Glasgow, a position which he held for more than 25 years, Stewart made it a center of "intellectual and moral influence." His students came from the England, the Continent and America and his influence was widely felt. Sir James Mackintosh wrote in his "Ethical Philosophy," (1872) "Without derogation from his writings, it may be said that his disciples were among his best works." This work contains Stewart's treatise on dreaming which was presented at Glasgow while a student. Stewart was a major figure in the Scottish Enlightenment. The "impact of the Scottish Enlightenment on colonial educational thought was absolutely pervasive, going far beyond John Witherspoon and the College of New Jersey to touch every conceivable realm of curricular substance and method." (Cremin, L. A. "American Education: The Colonial Experience" p. 378). Evans 26212; Hunter and Macalpine "Three Hundred Years of Psychiatry 1535-1860" pp. 640-3 (for first edition); Sabin 91676