Synopses & Reviews
An important figure in the natural law tradition and in the Scottish Enlightenment, Gershom Carmichael defended a strong theory of rights and drew attention to Grotius, Pufendorf, and Locke.
Gershom Carmichael was a teacher and writer who played an important role in the Scottish Enlightenment of the eighteenth century. His philosophy focused on the natural rights of individualsthe natural right to defend oneself, to own the property on which one
has labored, and to services contracted for with others. Carmichael argued that slavery is incompatible with the rights of men and citizens, and he believed that subjects have the right to resist rulers who exceed the limits of their powers.
Although he appealed to the authority of Grotius and Locke, the grounds on which he defended natural rights were distinctively his own. He drew upon the Reformed or Presbyterian theology to propose that, in respecting the natural rights of individuals, one shows ones reverence for Gods creation. Inasmuch as all of mankind longs for lasting happiness, which can be found only in worship of or reverence for God, such reverence is the natural law which obliges all to respect the rights of all.
Natural Rights includes Supplements and Observations on Pufendorf (1724), Natural Theology (1729), Logic (1722), two theses, and a manuscript on teaching, all in English for the first time.
Gershom Carmichael (16721729) was the first professor of moral philosophy at the University of Glasgow, preceding Hutcheson, Smith, and Reid.
James Moore is Professor of Political Science at Concordia University in Montreal.
Michael Silverthorne is Honorary University Fellow in the School of Classics at the University of Exeter.
Knud Haakonssen is Professor of Intellectual History and Director of the Centre for Intellectual History at the University of Sussex, England.
Synopsis
Gershom Carmichael (1672-1729) was the first professor of moral philosophy at the University of Glasgow, preceding Hutcheson, Smith, and Reid. He defended a strong theory of rights and drew attention to Grotius, Pufendorf, and Locke.
James Moore is Professor of Political Science at Concordia University in Montreal.
Michael Silverthorne is Honorary University Fellow in the School of Classics at the University of Exeter.
Please note: This title is available as an ebook for purchase on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iTunes.
Synopsis
Gershom Carmichael (1672-1729) was the first professor of moral philosophy at the University of Glasgow, preceding Hutcheson, Smith, and Reid. His philosophy focused on the natural rights of individuals--the natural right to defend oneself, to own the property on which one has labored, and to services contracted for with others. Although he appealed to the authority of Grotius and Locke, the grounds on which he defended natural rights were distinctively his own. Natural Rights is the first modern edition and translation of his published works.
James Moore is Emeritus Professor of Political Science at Concordia University in Montreal.
Michael Silverthorne is Honorary University Fellow in the School of Classics at the University of Exeter.
Table of Contents
Natural Rights on the Threshold of the Scottish Enlightenment . The Writings of Gershom Carmichael, ed. James Moore and Michael Silverthorne (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 2002). This book is part of the multi-volume series on Natural Law and Enlightenment Classics, Knud Haakonssen, General Editor.
Table of Contents
Foreword ix
Acknowledgments xvii
I. Natural Rights
From Supplements and Observations upon Samuel Pufendorf ’s On the Duty of Man and Citizen according to the Law of Nature, composed for the Use of Students in the Universities
- Editorial Note 7
- 1. On Moral Philosophy, or the Science of Natural Jurisprudence 9
- 2. On Lasting Happiness and the Divine Law 21
- 3. On Human Action in the Divine Court 30
- 4. Law, Rights, and Justice 39
- 5. On Natural Law 46
- 6. On Duty to God 54
- 7. On Duty to Oneself 59
- 8. On Duty to Others, or Sociability 73
- 9. Natural Rights and Agreements 77
- 10. On the Right of Property 91
- 11. Contracts and Quasi Contracts 106
- 12. Dissolution of Obligations 118
- 13. The State of Nature 124
- 14. On the Rights of Husbands and Wives 128
- 15. On the Rights of Parents and Children 134
- 16. On the Rights of Masters and Servants 138
- 17. On the Origin of Civil Society, or the Original Contract 146
- 18. On the Constitution of Civil Government 157
- 19. On the Limits of Sovereign Power and the Right of Resistance 162
- 20. On Conquest and Patrimonial Kingdoms 175
- 21. On the Rights of Citizens 188
- 22. On the Rights of War and Peace 199
- 23. Appendix: The Rights and Duties of Men and Citizens 211
II. Natural Theology
Synopsis of Natural Theology (Edinburgh, 1729)
- Contents 223
- Preface: Natural Theology and the Foundations of Morals 227
- On the Scope of Natural Theology 233
- 1. On the Existence of God 234
- 2. On the Attributes of God and First, on the Incommunicable Attributes 248
- 3. On the Communicable Attributes of God 257
- 4. On the Divine Operations, or Actions Involving External Objects 270
III. Logic
A Short Introduction to Logic
- Editorial Note 287
- Preface 289
- A Short Introduction to Logic 292
- 1. On Apprehension 293
- 2. On Judgment in General, and on Immediate Judgment in Particular 298
- 3. On Mediate Judgment or Discourse 304
- 4. On Method, and Logical Practice 309
IV. Early Writings: Philosophical Theses
- 1. Philosophical Theses, 1699 325
- 2. Philosophical Theses, 1707 357
V. Gershom Carmichael’s Account of His Teaching Method 379
Bibliography 389
Index 397