The Cambridge Companion to the Scottish Enlightenment (Cambridge Companions to Philosophy) [Paperback]

Alexander Broadie (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521003237 | ISBN-13: 978-0521003230 | Publication Date: April 28, 2003

A distinguished team of contributors examines the writings of David Hume, Adam Smith, Thomas Reid, Adam Ferguson, Colin Maclaurin and other Scottish thinkers, in philosophy, natural theology, economics, anthropology, natural science and law. The contributors also relate the Scottish Enlightenment to its historical context and assess its impact and legacy in Europe, America and beyond. The volume is of interest to a wide range of readers in philosophy, theology, literature and the history of ideas.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The study of the Scottish Enlightenment has expanded dramatically in recent years, not least through the work of many of the contributors to this collection of essays. By bringing together review essays on a wide range of topics, Alexander Broadie's work serves as an excellent introduction to current thought on the topic." Philosophy in Review

" . . . a uniformly strong introduction to the world of Reid and Campbell and beyond them to the circumstances and ideas of those crucial figures of the Scottish Enlightenment-Adam Ferguson, Hume, Francis Hutcheson, and Adam Smith. The volume is an example of the ways in which ideas and arguments and ideology and rhetoric can be introduced and explored clearly and without compromise." Studies in English Literature 1500-1900

"This volume maintains the high standard of excellence set by previous offerings in the Cambridge Companion series, making it a valuable reference for anyone interested in western philosophy and intellectual history." Theology Today

Book Description

In this volume a distinguished team of contributors examines the writings of David Hume, Adam Smith, Thomas Reid, Adam Ferguson, Colin Maclaurin and other Scottish thinkers, in fields including philosophy, natural theology, economics, anthropology, natural science and law. In addition, the contributors relate the Scottish Enlightenment to its historical context and assess its impact and legacy in Europe, America and beyond. The volume will be of interest to a wide range of readers in philosophy, theology, literature and the history of ideas.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 366 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (April 28, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521003237
• ISBN-13: 978-0521003230
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,156,871 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the great cultural movements in the world, February 20, 2006

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This review is from: The Cambridge Companion to the Scottish Enlightenment (Cambridge Companions to Philosophy) (Paperback)

The editor Alexander Broadie is Professor of Logic and Rhetoric at Glasgow University- a chair once occupied by Adam Smith author of "Wealth of Nations". This book, "The Scottish Enlightenment", written for the general reader, is a great treatise on a most astonishing period of Scottish history during the 18th century. Broadie writes; "that what gave the Scottish Enlightenment its character as a distinct historical movement was the complex set of relations with a group of geniuses and other immensely creative people living in each others intellectual pockets. Broadie and his colleagues write about the leading Scottish luminaries in the fields of science, philosophy, history, economics, and the arts. The ideas of Hume, Smith, Reid, Ferguson, Hutcheson, Kames, Turnbull, and others had an immense influence on the great thinkers of Europe as well as our founding fathers here in America.

The term "Enlightenment" suggests emergence from darkness. There are two essential features of the enlightenment. First, a demand that people think for themselves. You do not take ideas on faith but you inquire study and observe for yourself. Second, social virtue of tolerance of ideas. The state and church cannot punish one for their ideas. This allows literati of men to meet and exchange ideas on a plethora of subjects and to spread these ideas through their writings so that other literati in Europe can comment and react to them. Thinking becomes a civil activity with ideas in the public domain. These men love liberty and are looking to build a better society for humanity. They believe that if morality is about anything it is about - protecting the civilized values vested in society. No wonder these men had a great influence on our founding fathers! The Scottish Enlightenment was Scotland's chief export to America. The consequences for the Scottish Enlightenment were much theorizing about society and social change and the nature of freedom.

If you are truly interested in a classical education put this book on the top of your reading list! I recommend this book for anyone interested in philosophy, history, political science, and history of America's founding era.