Adam Ferguson and the Idea of Civil Society

Examines Adam Ferguson's philosophy, political theory and social thought in the context of the Scottish Enlightenment. Explores Ferguson's examines attempt to develop a genuine moral science that combined empirically based social theory with normative moralising. Presents a new, revisionary account of Ferguson: far from the stereotyped image of a republican sceptical about commercial society and much closer to the mainstream of the Scottish Enlightenment and its defence of the new British commercial order.

Examineaza filosofia, teoria politica si gandirea sociala a lui Adam Ferguson in contextul iluminismului scotian. Exploreaza incercarile lui Ferguson de a dezvolta o adevarata stiinta morala care combina teoria sociala bazata empiric cu moralizarea normativa.