Paradox

THE COMMON SENSE OF THOMAS REID 275Nathaniel Lee was confined in the London asylum Bedlam. Afriend, who had heard Lee was suffering one of his bouts ofinsanity, visited him. To his relief, he found Lee calm andreasonable. Lee took his friend on a tour around the asylum. Hisfriend’s hopes soared. When they eventually reached the roof ofthe asylum, Lee suddenly gripped his friend’s arm and excitedlyexclaimed, “Let us immortalize ourselves; let us leap down thismoment!” Lee’s friend coolly responded: “Any man could leapdown, so we should not immortalize ourselves that way. But letus go down and try if we can leap up.” Nathaniel Lee wasdelighted by this counterproposal and ran down the stairs to seeif he could put it into practice. (Fadiman 1985, 348)Although Reid sometimes harshly characterizes hisadversaries as “metaphysical lunatics,” he distinguishes themfrom the institutionalized variety. Metaphysical lunatics onlyhave fleeting departures from common sense.We are born under a necessity of trusting to our reasoningand judging powers; and a real belief of their being fallaciouscannot be maintained for any considerable time by thegreatest Sceptic, because it is doing violence to our constitution.It is like a man’s walking upon his hands, a feat whichsome men upon occasion can exhibit; but no man ever madea long journey in this manner. Cease to admire his dexterity,and he will, like other men, betake himself to his legs.(1785, VI, 5)FOLLOWING THE ARGUMENTReid compared the power of reason to walking. It is acquiredand sustained by exercise. Nature prompts our first steps.