Abstract

This chapter recounts the philosophical development and writings of James Frederick Ferrier. Professor of Moral Philosophy at St Andrews and regarded by many as the greatest metaphysician of his time, Ferrier was also at the centre of two hotly contested professorial appointments in Edinburgh. The chapter gives special attention to Ferrier’s role as an early proponent of an Idealist philosophy, his rejection of the ‘common sense’ philosophy of Thomas Reid, and his formulation of a version of Idealism in which a return to Bishop Berkeley is especially important. The chapter considers the significance of Ferrier’s major work, the ‘Institutes of Metaphysic’, a work that was largely ignored and underlined his philosophical isolation. It concludes with an extended discussion of the truth in Ferrier’s protestation that, despite his criticisms of Reid, he remained a Scottish philosopher.