David Fordyce

David Fordyce (1711-1751) was a Scottish philosopher and a contributor to the Scottish Enlightenment. Born at Broadford, Aberdeenshire, he was educated at Marischal College, Aberdeen, where he obtained his MA in 1728. He was intended for the church and obtained a license as a preacher but never received a call. After an itinerant period, he returned to Marischal College in 1742 as regent, teaching Moral Philosophy until his death. His influential work, 'Elements of Moral Philosophy,' was published in 1748 and later translated into German. Fordyce also authored 'Dialogues concerning Education' and 'The Temple of Virtue: A Dream.' He died in a storm at sea in September 1751 while returning from a tour of France and Italy.