John Gay (philosopher)
Encyclopedia
John Gay a cousin of the poet John Gay
, was an English philosopher
, biblical scholar and Church of England
clergyman. The greatest happiness principle, Gay supposed, represented a middle ground between the egoism of Hobbes
and Hutcheson's
moral sense theory.
. In 1718 he was elected Blundell’s Scholar at Sidney Sussex College
at Cambridge, graduating B.A. in 1721/2 and M.A. in 1725. From 1724 to 1732 he was a Fellow
of the College, lecturing in Hebrew, Greek, and ecclesiastical history.
translation of William King's
Latin Essay on the Origin of Evil (1731). (Law was Bishop of Carlisle
and King was Archbishop of Dublin
.) The "Dissertation" is one of the seminal works in the history of English utilitarianism
. In the eighteenth century its influence may be found in the works of the theological utilitarians, Abraham Tucker
(The Light of Nature Pursued, 7 vols., 1768–1778) and William Paley
(Principles of Moral and Political Philosophy, 1785). David Hartley
said that Gay's assertion of the importance of psychological association in human nature was the origin of his Observations on Man
(1749).
In 1730 Gay resigned his fellowship and became Vicar of Wilshampstead, later adding the living
of Haynes
.
John Gay
John Gay was an English poet and dramatist and member of the Scriblerus Club. He is best remembered for The Beggar's Opera , set to music by Johann Christoph Pepusch...
, was an English philosopher
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
, biblical scholar and Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
clergyman. The greatest happiness principle, Gay supposed, represented a middle ground between the egoism of Hobbes
Thomas Hobbes
Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury , in some older texts Thomas Hobbs of Malmsbury, was an English philosopher, best known today for his work on political philosophy...
and Hutcheson's
Francis Hutcheson (philosopher)
Francis Hutcheson was a philosopher born in Ireland to a family of Scottish Presbyterians who became one of the founding fathers of the Scottish Enlightenment....
moral sense theory.
Education
Gay was educated at Torrington School and Blundell's SchoolBlundell's School
Blundell's School is a co-educational day and boarding independent school located in the town of Tiverton in the county of Devon, England. The school was founded in 1604 by the will of Peter Blundell, one of the richest men in England at the time, and relocated to its present location on the...
. In 1718 he was elected Blundell’s Scholar at Sidney Sussex College
Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
Sidney Sussex College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in England.The college was founded in 1596 and named after its foundress, Frances Sidney, Countess of Sussex. It was from its inception an avowedly Puritan foundation: some good and godlie moniment for the mainteynance...
at Cambridge, graduating B.A. in 1721/2 and M.A. in 1725. From 1724 to 1732 he was a Fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
of the College, lecturing in Hebrew, Greek, and ecclesiastical history.
Philosophy
Gay’s philosophical works argued that virtue was conforming to a rule of life which promotes the happiness of others. His short "Dissertation concerning the Fundamental Principle of Virtue or Morality" was first published as a preface to Edmund Law'sEdmund Law
Edmund Law was a priest in the Church of England. He served as Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge, as Knightbridge Professor of Philosophy in the University of Cambridge from 1764 to 1769, and as bishop of Carlisle from 1768 to 1787....
translation of William King's
William King (archbishop)
William King, D.D. was an Anglican divine in the Church of Ireland, who was Archbishop of Dublin from 1703 to 1729. He was an author and supported the Glorious Revolution.-Early life:...
Latin Essay on the Origin of Evil (1731). (Law was Bishop of Carlisle
Bishop of Carlisle
The Bishop of Carlisle is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Carlisle in the Province of York.The diocese covers the County of Cumbria except for Alston Moor and the former Sedbergh Rural District...
and King was Archbishop of Dublin
Archbishop of Dublin
The Archbishop of Dublin may refer to:* Archbishop of Dublin – an article which lists of pre- and post-Reformation archbishops.* Archbishop of Dublin – the title of the senior cleric who presides over the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin....
.) The "Dissertation" is one of the seminal works in the history of English utilitarianism
Utilitarianism
Utilitarianism is an ethical theory holding that the proper course of action is the one that maximizes the overall "happiness", by whatever means necessary. It is thus a form of consequentialism, meaning that the moral worth of an action is determined only by its resulting outcome, and that one can...
. In the eighteenth century its influence may be found in the works of the theological utilitarians, Abraham Tucker
Abraham Tucker
Abraham Tucker was an English country gentleman, who devoted himself to the study of philosophy. He wrote The Light of Nature Pursued under the name of Edward Search.-Biography:...
(The Light of Nature Pursued, 7 vols., 1768–1778) and William Paley
William Paley
William Paley was a British Christian apologist, philosopher, and utilitarian. He is best known for his exposition of the teleological argument for the existence of God in his work Natural Theology, which made use of the watchmaker analogy .-Life:Paley was Born in Peterborough, England, and was...
(Principles of Moral and Political Philosophy, 1785). David Hartley
David Hartley (philosopher)
David Hartley was an English philosopher and founder of the Associationist school of psychology. -Early life and education:...
said that Gay's assertion of the importance of psychological association in human nature was the origin of his Observations on Man
Observations on Man
Observations on Man, his Frame, his Duty, and his Expectations is 18th-century British philosopher David Hartley's major work. Published in two parts in 1749 by Samuel Richardson, it puts forth Hartley's principal theories: the doctrine of vibrations and the doctrine of associations...
(1749).
In 1730 Gay resigned his fellowship and became Vicar of Wilshampstead, later adding the living
Benefice
A benefice is a reward received in exchange for services rendered and as a retainer for future services. The term is now almost obsolete.-Church of England:...
of Haynes
Haynes, Bedfordshire
Haynes is a small village and civil parish located in Bedfordshire, England, about seven miles south of Bedford. It includes the small hamlet of Haynes Church End. It was previously known as Hawnes....
.