Sketches of the History of Man (Natural Law and Enlightenment Classics) (3 book set)

Henry Home, Lord Kames, was by nature an advocate for reform and improvement and stood at the heart of the modernizing and liberalizing movement now known as the Scottish Enlightenment. The reaction to his Essays on the Principles of Morality and Natural Religion was a defining moment in the establishment of the predominance of moderation in the Church of Scotland. Divided into three books, Kames's 'Sketches of the History of Man' draws together the concerns of many of his earlier works. The first book considers man in the private sphere and presents Kames's version of the "four-stage theory of history": the progress, that is, from hunting, through 'the shepherd state' to agriculture, and thence to commerce. It contains, in addition, sketches on progress in the arts, taste, manners, and appetite for luxury goods. The second book takes as its subject man in the public sphere and explores the implications of his natural 'appetite for society'. Kames develops the notion that political, legal, and financial institutions are best regulated when it is understood that they are outgrowths of aspects of human nature. In the final book, Kames turns to an account of progress in the sciences of logic, morals, and theology. He seeks to vindicate the claim that "human understanding is in a progress towards maturity, however slow". Throughout the entire work, Kames expounds on his fundamental hypothesis that at the beginning of the history of the human race, savagery was ubiquitous and that the human story is one of an emergence out of barbarism and toward maturity. Each Of The Three Books Of Sketches Of The History Of Man Has As Its Principal Theme The Notion Of Progress. The First Book Describes Progress In Such Areas As Laws Regarding Property, Commerce, The Arts, Manners, The Treatment Of Women, And Luxary. The Second Book Has A More Political Focus, Treating The Developmnt Of States And Their Governments, Along With A Detailed Consideration Of Taxation. The Subject Of The Third Book Is Thr Progress Of The Sciences. Here Kames Describes The Development Of Reasoning And Logic, The Principles And History Of Morality, And The Progress Of Theology And Religion -- Book Jacket. Bk. 1. Progress Of Men Independent Of Society -- Bk. 2. Progress Of Men In Society -- Bk. 3. Progress Of Sciences. Henry Home, Lord Kames ; Edited And With An Introduction By James A. Harris. Considerably Enlarged By The Last Additions And Corrections Of The Author. Originally Published In 4 V.: Edinburgh : A. Strahan And T. Cadell. 1788. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 931-944) And Index. Divided into three books, Kames's Sketches of the History of Man draws together the concerns of many of his earlier works. The first book considers man in the private sphere, while the second explores man in the public sphere. The final book is an account of progress in the sciences of logic, morals, and theology. Throughout the entire work, Kames expounds on his fundamental hypothesis that, at the beginning of the history of the human race, savagery was ubiquitous and that the human story is one of an emergence out of barbarism and toward maturity. Henry Home, Lord Kames (1696–1782) was one of the leaders of the Scottish Enlightenment. James A. Harris is a Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Please note: This title is available as an ebook for purchase on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iTunes. Kames, Sketches of the History of Man, vol. 3 (2007) Front matter Title page Contents, p. vii Book III: Progress of Sciences 581 Volume III continued Contents, p. xi Preface, p. 581 Sketch I: Principles and Progress of Reason 583 Appendix, p. 635 Volume IV, p. 697 Contents, p. 699 Sketch II: Principles and Progress of Morality 701 Sketch III: Principles and Progress of Theology 790 Appendix: Sketches Concerning Scotland 907 Latin Tags and Phrases 929 Bibliography 931 Index 945