David Fordyce facts for kids

David Fordyce (born 1711 in Broadford, Aberdeenshire – died 1751) was a Scottish philosopher. He was an important thinker during the Scottish Enlightenment. This was a time when many new ideas about thinking and learning came from Scotland.

Fordyce studied at Marischal College, Aberdeen, earning his Master of Arts degree in 1728. He later became a teacher there in 1742. He taught Moral Philosophy until 1751, when he sadly died by drowning at sea. His popular book, Elements of Moral Philosophy, was first published in 1748.

Life Story

David Fordyce was born near Aberdeen and was baptized on April 1, 1711. He was the second son of George Fordyce, who was a provost (a type of town leader) of Aberdeen. David had several well-known brothers, including William Fordyce (a doctor) and James Fordyce (a minister).

David went to Aberdeen grammar school. In 1724, he started studying at Marischal College. There, he learned philosophy and mathematics. He earned his Master of Arts degree in 1728. He had planned to become a church minister and studied divinity, but he never became a full-time preacher.

For almost ten years, David traveled and worked in different places. In 1735, he was in Glasgow, taking part in intellectual discussions. He also traveled to England, where he met Philip Doddridge. Fordyce briefly worked as a minister in Newport Pagnell in 1739. After traveling through France, he returned to Edinburgh.

In 1742, he became a professor of moral philosophy at Marischal College. He was asked to write an article on "Moral Philosophy" for a book called The Modern Preceptor. This article was later published on its own as The Elements of Moral Philosophy in 1754. This book was very popular and was even translated into German. Fordyce had also gained attention for his anonymous book, Dialogues concerning Education, published in 1745–1748.

In 1750, he traveled through France, Italy, and other countries. Sadly, while returning home in September 1751, he died in a storm off the coast of Holland. His brother, James Fordyce, wrote about David's death in one of his writings.

His Books

• Dialogues concerning Education (1745–1748): This book was published anonymously, meaning without his name on it.
• Elements of Moral Philosophy (1748): This was his most famous work. It was published after his death in 1754. It was also translated into French and German. Parts of it were even included in the first Encyclopædia Britannica in 1771.
• Theodorus: A Dialogue concerning the Art of Preaching (1752): This book was often reprinted. It discussed how to give good sermons.
• The Temple of Virtue: A Dream (1757): This book was published after his death and had several editions.