Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Fearn, John
FEARN, JOHN (1768–1837), philosopher, served for some years in the royal navy, retired, and devoted himself to philosophy. He was equally opposed to the English and the Scottish schools, but was no transcendentalist, and professed to base his philosophy on induction. In a series of works, of which a list is appended, he discussed most of the more important questions of metaphysics, but without showing any clear apprehension of the points in dispute. He was a friend of Dr. Parr and of Basil Montagu. He died in Sloane Street, Chelsea, on 3 Dec. 1837. His works are the following: 1. ‘An Essay on Consciousness, or a Series of Evidences of a Distinct Mind,’ London, 1810, 2nd edit. 1812, 4to. 2. ‘A Review of First Principles of Bishop Berkeley, Dr. Reid, and Professor Stewart, with an indication of other principles,’ London, 1813, 4to (also printed in the ‘Pamphleteer,’ No. vi.). 3. ‘An Essay on Immortality,’ London, 1814, 8vo. 4. ‘A Demonstration of the Principles of Primary Vision, with the consequent state of Philosophy in Great Britain,’ London, 1815, 4to. 5. ‘A Demonstration of Necessary Connection,’ London, 1815, 4to. 6. ‘A Letter to Professor Stewart on the Objects of General Terms, and on the Axiomatical Laws of Vision,’ London, 1817, 4to. 7. ‘First Lines of the Human Mind,’ London, 1820, 8vo. 8. ‘Anti-Tooke; or an Analysis of the Principles and Structure of Language exemplified in the English Tongue,’ London, 1824, 8vo. 9. ‘A Manual of the Physiology of Mind, comprehending the First Principles of Physical Theology, with which are laid out the crucial objections to the Reideian Theory. To which is suffixed a paper on the Logic of Relation considered as a machine for Ratiocinative Science,’ London, 1829, 8vo. 10. ‘A Rationale of the Laws of Cerebral Vision, comprising the Laws of Single and of Erect Vision, deduced upon the Principles of Dioptrics,’ London, 1830, 8vo. 11. ‘The Human Sensorium investigated as to figure,’ London, 1832, 8vo. 12. ‘An Appeal to Philosophers by name on the Demonstration of Vision on the Brain, and against the attack of Sir David Brewster on the Rationale of Cerebral Vision,’ London, 1837, 8vo.
[Gent. Mag., 1838, pt. i. p. 216; Brit. Mus. Cat.]