STEWARD, DUGALD. - English philosopher, b. 22 Nov. 1752 in Edinburgh, d. there 11 June 1828. He taught at the Universities of his native city and of Glasgow.
S. enjoyed in his time a reputation and influence greater than the mediocrity of his thought. Reid (v.), he may be regarded as the Scottish school (v.). In his most important works (Elements of the philosophy of human mind, 3 vols., Edinburgh 1792-1827; Outlines of the moral philosophy, ibid. 1793; Philosophical essays, ibid. 1810; Dissertations on the progress
of metaph., etc., 2 vols., ibid. 1815-22; Philosophy of the active and moral powers of man, 2 vols., 1828) he sets forth what may be called his doctrine of the “fundamental laws of belief,” according to which primitive and elementary laws are innate in us, causing us to believe, with irresistible conviction, in the existence of the external world (of perceived things) and of ourselves (of sentient and thinking subjects), in the uniformity of the laws of nature, in the continuity of our personal identity, etc.