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ESSAY PRINCPL MORALITY (British philosophers and theologians of the 17th & 18th centuries)

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This book is an effort by Henry Home, Lord Kames, (1696-1782), to "construct a moral science based on the principles of natural law". He was a barrister with Whig principles and became a justice on Scotland's highest civil court. He had a reputation as an excellent jurist. Lord Kames was an avid reader with broad interests and was a patron of the "literati" club. He also sponsored Adam Smith's public lectures in Edinburgh. This book of essays helped found the "Scottish Common Sense School". It raises issues of the foundations of morality, free will versus determinism, the nature of self and identity." In his longest essay on "Morality and Justice", Lord Kames agrees with Francis Hutcheson that man is inherently social with a natural inclination toward benevolence. We humans use institutions, morals and laws to keep our passions within due bounds, this is very similar to Aristotle's belief that moral virtues are not natural, but acquired by means of education and example. Lord Kames points out that humans are social creatures and we are governed by different laws than animals that see each other as food. Lord Kames has a wonderful quote to illustrate his belief in the benevolence of man. "A lion has claws, because nature made him an animal of prey. A man has fingers, because he is a social animal made to procure food by art not by force". Lord Kames sense of justice and how it makes for a good society is espoused in his statement "justice is the moral virtue which guards the persons, the property, and the reputation of individuals and gives authority to promises and covenants". This is one of the main teaching points of the Scottish Enlightenment and embodied by our own "Founding Fathers" as evidenced by the language in the "Declaration of Independence".

Lord Kames essay on "Liberty and Necessity" looks at the development of civilization. His reading of Homer illuminates the fault of the psyche of the otherwise inquisitive and enlightened Greek people, the doctrine of fate or destiny prevails over man's free will. He takes great issue with the idea that man's fate is preordained, and is a great proponent of the idea of man having free will to act in the world. Lord Kames advocates for the idea that man using free will and acting out of moral necessity are consistent with liberty or absolute freedom. With free will comes responsibility and Lord Kames preaches moderation in our reasoning and behavior. For Lord Kames and most Scottish Enlightenment moral philosophers the laws of morality are the laws of nature.

This is a most illuminating book on virtue and morality and the influence Lord Kames ideas had on our founding fathers. 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.