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Which major philosophers were associated with the Scottish Enlightenment?
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Scottish Enlightenment
David Hume, oil painting by Allan Ramsay, 1766; in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh.
The Scottish Enlightenment was a vibrant intellectual movement characterized by a "conjunction of minds" rather than a single school of thought. Several prominent philosophers were central to this period:1
- David Hume: A foundational figure whose work on human nature and skepticism profoundly influenced the era. His writings, such as A Treatise of Human Nature, sought to establish a science of human nature.12
- Adam Smith: Renowned for his contributions to moral philosophy and economics, Smith is best known for The Wealth of Nations and The Theory of Moral Sentiments.31
- Thomas Reid: The leading proponent of the "philosophy of common sense," who developed his ideas in direct response to Hume’s skepticism.41
- Dugald Stewart: A highly influential teacher and disseminator of Enlightenment ideas who held the chair of moral philosophy at the University of Edinburgh.31
- Adam Ferguson: A philosopher and historian often cited as a forerunner of modern sociology for his focus on social interaction and the history of civil society.52
- Francis Hutcheson: A professor of moral philosophy at the University of Glasgow who served as a major shaping influence on Adam Smith.6