The Scottish Enlightenment played a key role in the development of our ideas about a commercial society. While many elements of the Enlightenment were hostile to Christianity, the Scottish Enlightenment in particular had very strong Christian influences and many of the main figures were serious Christians. This course will examine the influence of Christianity in the Scottish Enlightenment and some of its main figures.
Recommended Reading:
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Ingrid A. Merikoski, “A Different Kind of Enlightenment”, Religion & Liberty, Vol 11.6 (2001).
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Samuel Gregg, “Metaphysics and Modernity: Natural Law and Natural Rights in Gershom Carmichael and Francis Hutcheson”, Journal of Scottish Philosophy, Vol.7, no.1, 2009, pp.87-102.
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Samuel Gregg, "Commercial Order and the Scottish Enlightenment: The Christian Context", in Ian. R. Harper and Samuel Gregg (eds.), Christian Theology and Market Economics (Cheltenham, UK/Northampton, MA: Edward Elgar, 2008).
