Reforming Reid: Archibald Alexander and Common-sense Realism at Princeton

The goal of this thesis is to ascertain how the Princeton theologian, Archibald Alexander (1772‒1851), employed the principles and concepts of Scottish common-sense realism in his theology. By comparing Alexander’s own writings, taken largely from his archived lecture notes, with the writings of common-sense philosopher, Thomas Reid, and then comparing these against relevant literature taken from the Reformed scholastic tradition, an assessment is made in terms of determining how Alexander assessed and creatively modified Reid’s philosophy in his theological production. The structure of the thesis is based on Reid’s own ordering of the mental faculties in his published works. It begins with an assessment of the overall structure and functioning of the mind, followed by assessments of common sense, reason, the will, and the conscience. By examining each of these aspects or faculties in turn, a cumulative picture is drawn of Alexander’s approach to the subject. The summative conclusion shows Alexander to be not only mindful of his prior Reformed theological commitments, but also methodologically eclectic and innovative in pursuit of his theological goals.