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The Origins and Nature of the Scottish Enlightenment
by R. H. Campbell and Andrew S. Skinner, Editor(s)
ISBN: 9781904607144
Imprint: John Donald
Publication Date: Nov 2003
Format: Paperback
Price: £20.00
Stock Status: not in stock
’This is a well-researched and thoughtful book.’
- British Book News
’will be the standard work on its theme for a long time’
- TLS
This important collection of essays offers new perspectives on the development and character of the Scottish Enlightenment.
The first part of the volume contains six essays which comment on mainly institutional matters: the merchant community, the universities and the study of science and medicine. Two important themes emerge from these studies; firstly, the significant role played by remarkable and learned individuals such as Andrew Melville and George Drummond in the Enlightenment. Secondly, the beginnings of interest in the political, scientific and economic ideas that were to shape Scotland’s golden age are traced to the late seventeenth century.
The essays which make up the second part of the volume show how developments in science and philosophy were used to question theological dogma, in particular how theclaims of reason were maintained as a challenge to a theology of revelation. The collection ends with a series of essays exploring the definition and defence of the principles of natural law by means of appeal to reason, sentiment and experience.
One of the advantages of new technology is that it enables hard-to-find books to be made available again. We are pleased to present the first fruits of exploring John Donald’s classic backlist of academic titles. Not only do we hope to add more titles to the list but look forward to bringing in other titles suitable for this system as time goes on.
