Ferguson: An Essay on the History of Civil SocietyAdam Ferguson (1723-1816) was one of the central figures in the Scottish Enlightenment. His Essay on the History of Civil Society (first published in 1767) is a bold and novel attempt to reclaim the tradition of active citizenship and apply it to the modern state. Drawing on such diverse sources as classical authors and contemporary travel literature, Ferguson offers a complex model of historical advance which challenges both Hume's and Smith's embrace of modernity and the primitivism of Rousseau. Ferguson combines a subtle analysis of the emergence of modern commercial society with a critique of its abandonment of civic and communal virtues. Central to Ferguson's theory of citizenship are the themes of conflict, play, political participation and military valour. His fascination with the theory of unintended consequences as a model of historical causality does not deter him from insisting on the irreplaceable value of individual, public-minded members of political society. |
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Contents
Of the General Characteristics of Human Nature | 7 |
Of the principles of Selfpreservation | 16 |
Of the principles of Union among Mankind | 21 |
Of the principles of War and Dissension | 24 |
Of Intellectual Powers | 29 |
Of Moral Sentiment | 35 |
Of Happiness | 43 |
The same subject continued | 50 |
Of the History of Arts | 161 |
Of the History of Literature | 164 |
Of Consequences that result from the Advancement of Civil and Commercial arts | 172 |
Of the Subordination consequent to the Separation of Arts and Professions | 175 |
Of the Manners of Polished and Commercial Nations | 179 |
The same subject continued | 183 |
Of the Decline of Nations | 194 |
Of the Temporary Efforts and Relaxations of the National Spirit | 199 |
Of National Felicity | 59 |
The same subject continued | 63 |
Of the History of Rude Nations | 74 |
Of Rude Nations prior to the Establishment of Property | 80 |
Of Rude Nations under the Impressions of Property and Interest | 94 |
Of the History of Policy and Arts | 106 |
The History of Subordination | 118 |
Of National Objects in general and of Establishments and Manners relating to them | 131 |
Of Population and Wealth | 133 |
Of National Defence and Conquest | 141 |
Of Civil Liberty | 148 |
Of Relaxations in the National Spirit incident to Polished Nations | 203 |
The same subject continued | 213 |
Of National Waste | 220 |
Of Corruption and Political Slavery | 224 |
Of Luxury | 231 |
Of the Corruption incident to Polished Nations | 235 |
The same subject continued | 241 |
Of Corruption as it tends to Political Slavery | 247 |
Of the Progress and Termination of Despotism | 257 |
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Common terms and phrases
active admiration advantages affairs animal appear applied arts attention become body character citizen civil condition conduct consider consideration constitution continued corruption danger desire disposition distinction distinguished edited effects employed enemy engaged equal establishments Europe exercise Ferguson follow force fortune freedom frequently gained give habits happiness heart honour human imagination important improve individual interest Italy kind laws leader learned live maintain mankind manners matter means measure ment military mind moral nations nature never numbers object observed occasions occupy original paperback particular party passions perhaps pleasure political possession practice preservation prince principles probably progress pursuits rank reason refer refinement respect Romans rude rule scene Scottish secure sense sentiments separate serve society species spirit station success suffer superior supposed talents variety virtue weakness wealth
Bibliographic information
| Title | Ferguson: An Essay on the History of Civil Society Cambridge Texts in the History of Political Thought |
| Authors | Adam Ferguson, Ferguson Adam |
| Editor | Fania ʻÔz-Salṣberger |
| Contributors | Raymond Geuss, Quentin Skinner |
| Edition | illustrated, reprint, revised |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press, 1995 |
| ISBN | 0521447364, 9780521447362 |
| Length | 283 pages |
| Subjects | › History / Social History Political Science / General Political Science / History & Theory Political Science / Reference |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |