Scottish Enlightenment

Articles on the Scottish Enlightenment:  Wikipedia,   The Sanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

The Scottish Enlightenment takes place in the 19th century.  Its first major philosopher was Francis Hutcheson whose first major book was published in 1725.  During the Enlightenment, Scottish philosophers had a major impact on epistemology, aesthetics, economics and ethics, particularly in the development of the idea of moral sentiment.  

Beyond philosophy, Scotsmen contributed greatly to many fields in the 18th century including literature, architecture, math and science, the early development of sociology and anthropology, painting and music.

Important post-Enlightenment (19th century) Scottish intellectuals include Thomas Carlyle, James Watt, William Murdoch, James Clerk Maxwell, Lord Kelvin and Sir Walter Scott.


(1696 - 1746)  Francis Hutcheson  Ulster-Scottish  

(1710 - 1796)      Thomas Reid  Scottish 

                  Reid's theory of Common Sense Realism challenged the skepticism in John Locke's
                  and David Hume's sense experience.  Reid set out his theories in An Inquiry into the 
                  Human Mind on the Principles of Common Sense (1764).  This approach argued that
                  there are certain concepts, such as human existence, the existence of solid objects and
                  some basic moral "first principles" that are intrinsic to the make up of man and from
                  which all subsequent arguments and systems of morality must be derived.  It can be seen
                  as an attempt to reconcile the new scientific developments of the Enlightenment with
                  religious belief.

                  Reed influenced  Charles Sanders Peirce, the late 19th century American Pragmatist,
                  and G.E. Moore, the early 20th century British realist.


(1711 - 1776)  David Hume  Scottish


(1723 - 1790)  Adam Smith  Scottish  (video)


(1723 - 1816)  Adam Ferguson  Scottish