John Laird (philosopher)

John Laird (philosopher)

John Laird (17 May 1887 – 5 August 1946) was a philosopher, in the school of New British Realism, who later turned to metaphysical idealism.

John Laird was born at Durris, Kincardineshire, a parish adjacent to the birthplace of famous Scottish philosopher Thomas Reid. He was the son of Rev. D.M.W. Laird, a Church of Scotland minister, and Margaret Laird (née Steward).

Laird attended the grammar school of Aberdeen and the University of Edinburgh, where he graduated with a first class degree in philosophy. Laird then moved to Trinity College, Cambridge and gained another first class degree in the moral sciences tripos. He then spent a year at the University of St. Andrews and briefly as professor of philosophy at Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia before Queen's University, Belfast in 1913, where he met Helen Ritchie. They married in 1919 and had one son, who died in childhood.

In 1924 he was appointed Regius Professor of Moral Philosophy at the University of Aberdeen, a position which he held until his death. He was president of the Aristotelian Society from 1929 to 1930. Laird was a prolific writer and public speaker.