The Cambridge Companion to the Scottish Enlightenment

The Cambridge Companion to the Scottish Enlightenment offers a philosophical perspective on an eighteenth-century movement that has been profoundly influential on western culture. 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 result is a comprehensive and accessible volume that illuminates the richness, the intellectual variety and the underlying unity of this important movement. It will be of interest to a wide range of readers in philosophy, theology, literature and the history of ideas.

Reviews of The Cambridge Companion to the Scottish Enlightenment

This offers a philosophical perspective on an eighteenth-century movement influential on western culture. ""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