ABSTRACT
Synopsis Reid’s theory of judgement contains his account of common sense and first principles. Judgement, like other basic operations of the mind, is indefinable but known to us from consciousness and attentive reflection. It presupposes conceptions of the things judged, but distinct conception itself presupposes judgement. The apparent paradox in this contention is resolved by noting that the sort of conception which presupposes conception is distinct conception. We first obtain an original set of primitive conceptions from our faculties. These conceptions are, however, indistinct and inexact. By means of judgement, they are replaced by distinct and exact conceptions. Thus, our faculties provide us with a set of starter conceptions which give way to more scientific conceptions by the exercise of the faculty of judgement. This faculty is also the source of all our conceptions pertaining to judgement and reasoning.
