Philosophical Societies in the Scottish Enlightenment
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12775/RF.2018.030Keywords
Scottish Enlightenment, philosophical societies, the Aberdeen Philosophical Society, the Wise Club, the Philosophical Society of EdinburgAbstract
As one of the outstanding researchers of that time, Roger L. Emerson, claims, the phenomenon of the Scottish Enlightenment, called the ‘Age of Improvement’, is based on ‘cosmopolitan learned society’. The Parliamentary Union of 1707 created a unique situation resulting in a significant development and improvement of both the economic and cultural conditions. The ‘Age of Improvement’ had a few key characteristics. One of them was the development of the science of human nature and natural philosophy. The other one was connected with promoting and spreading that knowledge throughout the Scottish society. The crucial role in cultivating natural sciences was played by universities and numerous specialized societies. What is analysed in this study is the role of philosophical societies in 18th century Scotland. The activities of the Aberdeen Philosophical Society, the Wise Club, and the Philosophical Society of Edinburgh presented in this study shows the important role they played in shaping the new ‘enlightened’ world.
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