Full Idea
The theory concerning ideas, so generally received by philosophers, destroys all the authority of memory. …This theory made it necessary for them to find out arguments to prove the existence of external objects …and of things past.
Gist of Idea
The theory of ideas, popular with philosophers, means past existence has to be proved
Source
Thomas Reid (Essays on Intellectual Powers 6: Judgement [1785], 5)
Book Reference
Reid,Thomas: 'Inquiry and Essays', ed/tr. Beanblossom /K.Lehrer [Hackett 1983], p.271
A Reaction
Reid was a very articulate direct realist. He seems less aware than the rest of us of the problem of delusions and false memories. Our strong sense that immediate memories are reliable is certainly inexplicable.
Related Idea
Idea 6486 Ideas are the objects of understanding when we think [Locke]