CAIRD

caird, edward (1835-1908), british philosopher and theologian, brother of john caird (_q.v._), was born at greenock on the 22nd of march 1835, and educated at glasgow university and balliol college, oxford. he took a first class in moderations in 1862 and in _literae humaniores_ in 1863, and was pusey and ellerton scholar in 1861. from 1864 to 1866 he was fellow and tutor of merton college. in 1866 he became professor of moral philosophy in the university of glasgow, and in 1893 succeeded benjamin jowett as master of balliol. with thomas hill green he founded in england a school of orthodox neo-hegelianism (see hegel, _ad fin._), and through his pupils he exerted a far-reaching influence on english philosophy and theology. owing to failing health he gave up his lectures in 1904, and in may 1906 resigned his mastership, in which he was succeeded by james leigh strachan-davidson, who had previously for some time, as senior tutor and fellow, borne the chief burden of college administration. dr caird received the honorary degree of d.c.l. in 1892; he was made a corresponding member of the french academy of moral and political science and a fellow of the british academy. his publications include _philosophy of kant_ (1878); _critical philosophy of kant_ (1889); _religion and social philosophy of comte_ (1885); _essays on literature and philosophy_ (1892); _evolution of religion_ (gifford lectures, 1891-1892); _evolution of theology in the greek philosophers_ (1904); and he is represented in this encyclopaedia by the article on cartesianism. he died on the 1st of november 1908. for a criticism of dr caird's theology, see a.w. benn, _english rationalism in the 19th century_ (london, 1906).