Alexander Smith
| Alexander Smith | |
|---|---|
| Born | 12 June 1796 Banff, Scotland |
| 12 February 1851 (aged 54)12 February 1851 (aged 54) | |
| 🏡 Residence | Western philosophy |
| 🏳️ Nationality | Scottish |
| 💼 Occupation | |
Alexander Smith (12 June 1796 – 12 February 1851) was a Scottish philosopher and educator from Banff, Aberdeenshire. He is known for his contributions to moral philosophy and his work The Philosophy of Morals. Smith spent most of his life in Banff, with a period at the University of Aberdeen. He was also known as a musician and a member of the local literary society.
Early Life and Education
Smith was born in Banff, Aberdeenshire, on 12 June 1796.[1] He was educated in Banff, where he was recognised for his talents. Along with five other boys, he benefited from the education system in Banff.[2]
Smith attended King's College, Aberdeen, graduating with an M.A. in 1814.[3] He studied moral philosophy under Dr. William Jack.[4]
Career
After graduating, Smith worked as a parochial schoolmaster at Rothiemay and later at a private academy in Forres. In 1820, he received his ministerial license from the Presbytery of Fordyce.[5] However, he did not pursue a ministerial career and instead taught English at Banff Academy until 1827, when his health declined. He subsequently became the local postmaster, a position he held until his death in 1851.[6]
Literary and Philosophical Contributions
In 1810, Smith, along with the other boys, established a literary society in Banff, which held meetings for the delivery of essays and discussions on literary subjects. The society's collection of books was gifted to the town library in 1899.[7]
Smith's major philosophical work, The Philosophy of Morals, was published in 1835. Influenced by William Paley's theological utilitarian liberalism, Smith addressed issues in moral philosophy.[8]
Selected Publications
- Smith, Alexander (January 1837). "Evangelical Preaching". Edinburgh Review.
- Smith, Alexander (1835). The Philosophy of Morals. Smith, Elder & Co. Search this book on
- Smith, Alexander (January 1840). "Douglas on the Philosophy of Mind". Edinburgh Review.
- Smith, Alexander (April 1841). "Lieber's Political Ethics". Edinburgh Review.
- Smith, Alexander (January 1842). "Phrenological Ethics". Edinburgh Review.
- Smith, Alexander (December 1835). "The Philosophy of Poetry". Blackwood's Magazine.
References
- ↑ National Archives of Scotland. OPR for Banff. 174/4. p. 68. Search this book on
- ↑ Imlach, James (1884). History of Banff. Imlach. p. 131.
The epitaph states that she was 'grateful' to John Smith. However, the stone itself says 'affection'.
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- ↑ Rait, Robert S. (1895). The Universities of Aberdeen. Aberdeen University Press. p. 52. Search this book on
- ↑ Mackintosh, R. J. (1886). Memoirs of the Right Honourable Sir James Mackintosh. 1. pp. 15–16. Search this book on
- ↑ National Archives of Scotland. Presbytery records: Fordyce. CH2/158/9. Search this book on
- ↑ Barclay, William (1925). Schools and Schoolmasters of Banffshire. Banff. Search this book on
- ↑ Scott, William C. (1908). Annals of Banff. 1. p. 249. Search this book on
- ↑ Smith, Alexander (1835). The Philosophy of Morals. Smith, Elder & Co. Search this book on
Further Reading
- Sell, Alan P. F.; Mander, W. J. (2002). Dictionary of Nineteenth Century British Philosophers. Bloomsbury. p. 1033. Search this book on
- Grayling, A. C.; Goulder, Naomi; Pyle, Andrew (2006). The Continuum Encyclopaedia of British Philosophy. Continuum. p. 1034. Search this book on
- Allibone, S. A. (1886). Critical Dictionary of English Literature and British and American Authors. 2. J. B. Lippincott & Co. p. 219. Search this book on
- Abrams, M. H. (1953). "The Mirror and the Lamp". Oxford University Press.
Notes that Smith anticipated aspects of literary theory by 70 years, particularly that of Rudolph Carnap and I.A.Richards. He also categorizes Smith as a product of the Scottish Enlightenment.
- Brown, Robert (1970). Between Hume and Mill: an Anthology of British Philosophy 1749–1843. New York. Search this book on
- Schneewind, J. B. (1977). Sidgwick's Ethics and Victorian Moral Philosophy. Oxford University Press.
Schneewind argues that Smith is the best moral theorist in the period between Reid and Sidgwick.
Search this book on - Crimmins, J. E. (1983). "John Brown and the Theological Tradition of Utilitarian Ethics". History of Political Thought. 4 (3): 523–550.
- O'Flaherty, N. (2019). Utilitarianism in the Age of Enlightenment. Cambridge University Press.
See especially chapter 3 for the character of non-secular utilitarianism and how it may be detached from voluntarism (which is what Smith does in The Philosophy of Morals when he replaces it with intellectualism) to make a rational case for liberalism.
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