Reid, indeed, allows himself to use not only the word observe, but even the word perceive, in that wide sense in which it might be said that we observe or perceive the thoughts and feelings of others: and I think that the fact that he uses the words in this sense, has misled him into thinking that his view is more plausible and more in accordance with Common Sense than it really is: by using the words in this sense he is able to plead that observation really does give a reason for some of those generalisations, for which Common Sense holds that observation (in a narrower sense) does give a reason.