Abstract: This chapter begins by outlining the main goal of this book, which is to determine the content of Reid's theory of perception. This theory includes his analyses of: the intentionality of cognition, the senses themselves, sensory experience, the nature of secondary and primary qualities, and the formation of conceptual content in perceptual belief. Reed's philosophical development is then discussed. An overview of the subsequent chapters is presented.

Keywords: Thomas Reid, theory of perception, cognition, sensory experience, perceptual belief,