An Essay on the History of Civil Society, Eighth Edition By: Adam Ferguson (1723-1816)
First Page: This is an authorized facsimile of the original book, and was produced in 1971 by microfilm xerography by University Microfilms, A Xerox Company, Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.A. AN ESSAY on the HISTORY OF CIVIL SOCIETY. BY ADAM FERGUSON, L. L. D. CONTENTS PART I. OF THE GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF HUMAN NATURE. SECTION I. Of the question relating to the State of Nature SECTION II. Of the principles of Self Preservation SECTION III. Of the principles of Union among Mankind SECTION IV. Of the principles of War and Dissention SECTION V. Of Intellectual Powers SECTION VI. Of Moral Sentiment SECTION VII. Of Happiness SECTION VIII. The same subject continued SECTION IX. Of National Felicity SECTION X. The same subject continued PART II. OF THE HISTORY OF RUDE NATIONS. SECTION I. Of the informations on this subject, which are derived from Antiquity SECTION II. Of Rude Nations prior to the Establishment of Property SECTION III. Of rude Nations, under the impressions of Property and Interest PART III. OF THE HISTORY OF POLICY AND ARTS. SECTION I. Of the Influences of Climate and Situation SECTION II. The History of Political Establishments SECTION III. Of National Objects in general, and of Establishments and Manners relating to them SECTION IV. Of Population and Wealth SECTION V. Of National Defence and Conquest SECTION VI. Of Civil Liberty SECTION VII. Of the History of Arts SECTION VIII. Of the History of Literature PART IV. OF CONSEQUENCES THAT RESULT FROM THE ADVANCEMENT OF CIVIL AND COMMERCIAL ARTS. SECTION I. Of the Separation of Arts and Professions SECTION II. Of the Subordination consequent to the Separation of Arts and Professions SECTION III. Of the Manners of Polished and Commercial Nations SECTION IV. The same subject continued PART V. OF THE DECLINE OF NATIONS. SECTION I. Of supposed National Eminence, and of the Vicissitudes of Human Affairs SECTION II. Of the Temporary Efforts and Relaxations of the National Spirit SECTION III. Of Relaxations in the National Spirit incident to Polished Nations SECTION IV. The same subject continued SECTION V. Of National Waste PART VI. OF CORRUPTION AND POLITICAL SLAVERY. SECTION I. Of corruption in general SECTION II. Of Luxury SECTION III. Of the Corruption incident to Polished Nations SECTION IV. The same subject continued SECTION V. Of Corruption, as it tends to Political Slavery SECTION VI. Of the Progress and Termination of Despotism AN ESSAY ON THE HISTORY OF CIVIL SOCIETY. PART FIRST. OF THE GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF HUMAN NATURE. SECTION I. OF THE QUESTION RELATING TO THE STATE OF NATURE. Natural productions are generally formed by degrees. Vegetables are raised from a tender shoot, and animals from an infant state. The latter, being active, extend together their operations and their powers, and have a progress in what they perform, as well as in the faculties they acquire. This progress in the case of man is continued to a greater extent than in that of any other animal. Not only the individual advances from infancy to manhood, but the species itself from rudeness to civilization. Hence the supposed departure of mankind from the state of their nature; hence our conjectures and different opinions of what man must have been in the first age of his being. The poet, the historian, and the moralist frequently allude to this ancient time; and under the emblems of gold, or of iron, represent a condition, and a manner of life, from which mankind have either degenerated, or on which they have greatly improved. On either supposition, the first state of our nature must have borne no resemblance to what men have exhibited in any subsequent period; historical monuments, even of the earliest date, are to be considered as novelties; and the most common establishments of human society are to be classed among the encroachments which fraud, oppression, or a busy invention, have made upon the reign of nature, by which the chief of our grievances or blessings were equally withheld... Continue reading book >>

An Essay on the History of Civil Society, Eighth Edition By: Adam Ferguson (1723-1816)

First Page:

This is an authorized facsimile of the original book, and was produced in 1971 by microfilm xerography by University Microfilms, A Xerox Company, Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.A.

AN ESSAY on the HISTORY OF CIVIL SOCIETY.

BY ADAM FERGUSON, L. L. D.

CONTENTS

PART I. OF THE GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF HUMAN NATURE.

SECTION I. Of the question relating to the State of Nature

SECTION II. Of the principles of Self Preservation

SECTION III. Of the principles of Union among Mankind

SECTION IV. Of the principles of War and Dissention

SECTION V. Of Intellectual Powers

SECTION VI. Of Moral Sentiment

SECTION VII. Of Happiness

SECTION VIII. The same subject continued

SECTION IX. Of National Felicity

SECTION X. The same subject continued

PART II. OF THE HISTORY OF RUDE NATIONS.

SECTION I. Of the informations on this subject, which are derived from Antiquity

SECTION II. Of Rude Nations prior to the Establishment of Property

SECTION III. Of rude Nations, under the impressions of Property and Interest

PART III. OF THE HISTORY OF POLICY AND ARTS.

SECTION I. Of the Influences of Climate and Situation

SECTION II. The History of Political Establishments

SECTION III. Of National Objects in general, and of Establishments and Manners relating to them

SECTION IV. Of Population and Wealth

SECTION V. Of National Defence and Conquest

SECTION VI. Of Civil Liberty

SECTION VII. Of the History of Arts

SECTION VIII. Of the History of Literature

PART IV. OF CONSEQUENCES THAT RESULT FROM THE ADVANCEMENT OF CIVIL AND COMMERCIAL ARTS.

SECTION I. Of the Separation of Arts and Professions

SECTION II. Of the Subordination consequent to the Separation of Arts and Professions

SECTION III. Of the Manners of Polished and Commercial Nations

SECTION IV. The same subject continued

PART V. OF THE DECLINE OF NATIONS.

SECTION I. Of supposed National Eminence, and of the Vicissitudes of Human Affairs

SECTION II. Of the Temporary Efforts and Relaxations of the National Spirit

SECTION III. Of Relaxations in the National Spirit incident to Polished Nations

SECTION IV. The same subject continued

SECTION V. Of National Waste

PART VI. OF CORRUPTION AND POLITICAL SLAVERY.

SECTION I. Of corruption in general

SECTION II. Of Luxury

SECTION III. Of the Corruption incident to Polished Nations

SECTION IV. The same subject continued

SECTION V. Of Corruption, as it tends to Political Slavery

SECTION VI. Of the Progress and Termination of Despotism

AN ESSAY

ON THE

HISTORY OF CIVIL SOCIETY.

PART FIRST.

OF THE GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF HUMAN NATURE.

SECTION I.

OF THE QUESTION RELATING TO THE STATE OF NATURE.

Natural productions are generally formed by degrees. Vegetables are raised from a tender shoot, and animals from an infant state. The latter, being active, extend together their operations and their powers, and have a progress in what they perform, as well as in the faculties they acquire. This progress in the case of man is continued to a greater extent than in that of any other animal. Not only the individual advances from infancy to manhood, but the species itself from rudeness to civilization. Hence the supposed departure of mankind from the state of their nature; hence our conjectures and different opinions of what man must have been in the first age of his being. The poet, the historian, and the moralist frequently allude to this ancient time; and under the emblems of gold, or of iron, represent a condition, and a manner of life, from which mankind have either degenerated, or on which they have greatly improved. On either supposition, the first state of our nature must have borne no resemblance to what men have exhibited in any subsequent period; historical monuments, even of the earliest date, are to be considered as novelties; and the most common establishments of human society are to be classed among the encroachments which fraud, oppression, or a busy invention, have made upon the reign of nature, by which the chief of our grievances or blessings were equally withheld... Continue reading book >>

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