Product Description

This anthology emphasizes the European dimension of the Enlightenment and also the diversity of interest and output of the Age of Reason. To many, the Enlightenment of the 18th century represents Scotland's Golden Age. In philosophy, law, economics, politics, linguistics and the physical sciences, Scots were key players in changing the way the world was viewed. And the reverberations of this development of knowledge is still being felt today. This was the age of David Hume, Thomas Reid and Adam Smith, of Adam Ferguson, James Hutton and Sir John Sinclair with his achievement of the first statistical account. After a general introduction, the book is broken down thematically - "Human Nature", "Ethics", "Aesthetics", "Religion", "Economics", "Social Theory", and "Politics", "Law", "Historiography" and "Science". These sections gather together the well known and the lesser known amongst the writing of the time. Much of the material has not been reprinted since the 18th century.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #393451 in Books
• Published on: 2008-06-23
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 820 pages

Customer Reviews

A comprehensive guide to The Scottish Enlightenment.
This book is more than enough for anyone to venture into the eclectic subjects discussed during The Scottish Enlightenment. The anthology contains writings by all the prominent philosophers (and some more obscure ones) on subjects ranging from religion; economics; the human mind; morals; science and many more. The works of Hume; Hutcheson; Paine; Reid and Locke are a few of those contained. It displays theories that starkly contradict each other so not only does one find the view of a philosopher, but one can trace an argument in relation to the reactions of his contempories. It is the only collection of works that competently depicts this. It will give the reader a clear view of the texts. Broadie's introduction to this anthology also explains the importance of The Scottish Enlightenment with regard to The Enlightement as a whole. Broadie delves into the period with relish, pointing out the problems philosophers faced with their radical ideas which often offended different parts of society.

Nothing more could be asked for from an anthology on The Scottish Enlightenment. It is an excellent book anyone interested in this subject would find themselves referring to again and again.