William Duff (writer)
Encyclopedia
William Duff was a Scottish
Presbyterian minister and one of the first writers to analyse the nature of genius
as a property of human psychology. His Essay on Original Genius is frequently cited as a landmark in the Western analysis of genius and creativity
.
in the same county, 24 October 1766, being admitted 4 March 1767. He was nominated minister of Foveran
, also in Aberdeenshire, in February 1774, and took up his home a year later. There he got a new church built in 1794, and died father of the synod, 23 February 1815, in the eighty-third year of his age, and sixtieth of his ministry.
Duff also furnished an account of Foveran
to Sir J. Sinclair's Statistical Account of Scotland.
, by whom he had two sons and four daughters.
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
Presbyterian minister and one of the first writers to analyse the nature of genius
Genius
Genius is something or someone embodying exceptional intellectual ability, creativity, or originality, typically to a degree that is associated with the achievement of unprecedented insight....
as a property of human psychology. His Essay on Original Genius is frequently cited as a landmark in the Western analysis of genius and creativity
Creativity
Creativity refers to the phenomenon whereby a person creates something new that has some kind of value. What counts as "new" may be in reference to the individual creator, or to the society or domain within which the novelty occurs...
.
Ministry and family
Duff was a Scottish minister and M.A., was licensed by the presbytery 25 June 1755, called 18 September, and ordained 8 October, when he was appointed to the parish of Glenbucket, Aberdeenshire. Thence he was transferred to PeterculterPeterculter
Peterculter , also known as Culter, is a suburb of Aberdeen, Scotland approximately eight miles inland from Aberdeen city centre. Peterculter is situated along the northern banks of the River Dee in the vicinity of the confluences with Crynoch Burn and Leuchar Burn...
in the same county, 24 October 1766, being admitted 4 March 1767. He was nominated minister of Foveran
Foveran
Foveran is the name of both a parish and village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The village is located 11 miles north of Aberdeen and 4 miles south-east of Ellon; the main group of houses and the village school are located adjacent to the main A90 trunk road. The hereditary baronetcy of Foveran is...
, also in Aberdeenshire, in February 1774, and took up his home a year later. There he got a new church built in 1794, and died father of the synod, 23 February 1815, in the eighty-third year of his age, and sixtieth of his ministry.
Theory of genius
Duff was primarily interested in establishing the cognitive traits that explained variance in people's accomplishments. He postulated three aspects: imagination, judgement and taste. Notably, he emphasised imagination as making the most important contribution to genius.Published works
Duff is author of:- An Essay on Original Genius and its Various Modes of Exertion in Philosophy and the Fine Arts, particularly in Poetry (anon.), octavo, London, 1767, a work which exhibits considerable acquaintance with classical authors. A sequel is
- Critical Observations on the Writings of the most celebrated Original Geniuses in Poetry, octavo, London, 1770.
- The History of Rhedi, the Hermit of Mount Ararat. An Oriental Tale (anon.), duodecimo, London, 1773.
- Sermons on Several Occasions, 2 volumes duodecimo, Aberdeen, 1786.
- Letters on the Intellectual and Moral Character of Women, octavo, Aberdeen, 1807.
- The Last Address of a Clergyman in the Decline of Life, octavo, Aberdeen, 1814.
Duff also furnished an account of Foveran
Foveran
Foveran is the name of both a parish and village in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The village is located 11 miles north of Aberdeen and 4 miles south-east of Ellon; the main group of houses and the village school are located adjacent to the main A90 trunk road. The hereditary baronetcy of Foveran is...
to Sir J. Sinclair's Statistical Account of Scotland.
Family
On 4 September 1778, he married Ann MitchellAnn Mitchell
Ann Mitchell is one of Britain's leading stage and television actresses. In 2011, she was cast as Cora Cross in the BBC soap opera EastEnders, the mother of Tanya Jessop and Rainie Cross. She was only to appear originally for 4 episodes but returned on 28 July 2011 as a regular character...
, by whom he had two sons and four daughters.