John Gregory (moralist)

John Gregory ( born June 3, 1724 in Aberdeen, † February 9, 1773 in Edinburgh) was a Scottish doctor and an influential pioneer of medical ethics in the 18th century Europe.

John Gregory was the grandson of the mathematician James Gregory was born the son of the physician James Gregorie and his second wife Anna Chalmers. His father died when he was eight years old, by now his grandfather Principal Chalmers and his half- brother, James, Professor of Medicine cared to. His education His cousin, the philosopher Thomas Reid, also influenced his upbringing. Gregory first attended the local primary school and then went to the King's College in Aberdeen. In 1742, he and his mother moved to Edinburgh, where he studied medicine. There he became friends with the doctor and poet Mark Akenside ( 1721-1770 ). 1745 Gregory moved to Leiden to continue his studies. Shortly after he received his degree in 1746 he was appointed professor of philosophy at King 's College. He taught mathematics and moral and natural philosophy. He also practiced as a physician and but moved it to lecture to his patients.

On April 2, 1752 Gregory married Elizabeth Forbes. Together they had three sons, including the physician James Gregory and three daughters. 1754 the family moved to London and joined the group around John Wilkes, Charles Townshend ( 1725-1767 ), George Lyttelton and Elizabeth Montagu on. During this time he began his name " Gregory " (actually " Gregorie " ) to write. In 1756 he was elected a member of the Royal Society. Then he returned to Aberdeen and took on a different academic positions.

In Aberdeen Gregory tried to set up a medical lecture series, but it took only a few medical students participated. He also became an active member of the Philosophical Society of Aberdeen. The writings he presented were later published as a collection of anonymous in A Comparative View of the State and Faculties of Man, with Those Of The Animal World ( 1765 ).

Among his best known works is the 1770 published collection: " Observations on the Duties and Offices of a Physician and on the Method of Prosecuting Enquiries in Philosophy". John Gregory took a utilitarian perspective in terms of real or moral action of a doctor. Thus, a physician is morally where his personal interest of improving the common good plays.

• Writer (Aberdeen)
• Writer ( Edinburgh)
• Medical Ethics
• Member of the Royal Society
• Physician (18th century)
• Scotsman
• Born in 1724
• Died in 1773
• Man