Latest news with #ScottishEnlightenment
Scotsman
4 days ago
- Politics
- Scotsman
Poll reveals majority of Scots have never heard of Scottish Enlightenment or David Hume
Sign up to our History and Heritage newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A majority of Scots have never heard of the Scottish Enlightenment or Scotland's most famous philosopher David Hume, a new poll has revealed. The poll found 56 per cent of respondents did not know of the Enlightenment - the period in 18th and 19th-century Scotland characterised by a flood of intellectual and scientific accomplishments - nor of Mr Hume himself. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A statue of David Hume against the backdrop of Edinburgh's Old Town | Scotsman/Canva The survey, commissioned by the David Hume Institute and carried out by ScotPulse, also found seven in ten (72 per cent) people were interested in history and wanted to learn more. Fewer than one in five respondents thought the past was not relevant to how their lives are lived today, the survey showed. Mr Hume is a historian and economist best known for his highly influential system of empiricism and philosophical scepticism published during the 18th century. But his views on race and his association with the slave trade has sparked criticism in recent years, with the University of Edinburgh removing his name from one of its campus buildings over concerns on the 'distress' caused to students. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A total of 2,194 people aged 16 and over in Scotland were interviewed from February 4-10 for the poll. Susan Murray, director of the David Hume Institute, said: 'This survey poses an interesting question for an institute named in honour of one of Scotland's most famous Enlightenment thinkers. Does knowing about the enlightenment matter to Scots today? And what does it mean to be named after a historical figure that almost half of Scots have not heard of? 'When we began thinking about this, we had more questions than answers, but the survey told us we are not alone in wanting to understand more.' A footnote first published by Mr Hume in 1753, as part of a wider essay on national characteristics, contained the view there were several races of humans, but claimed all were inferior to white Europeans. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A project, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, has aimed to investigate Mr Hume's legacy. A conference on the back of the project will be held in Edinburgh today.
Epoch Times
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Epoch Times
The 3 Pillars of the American Idea
Commentary Unalienable rights and self-evident truths are Expand the number of core ideas under consideration to three and you get unalienable rights, self-evident truths, and free market economics. You could call them the three pillars of the American Idea. These three pillars are the direct gifts to America of three great thinkers of the Scottish Enlightenment: Francis Hutcheson, Adam Smith, and Thomas Reid. Their thinking—known today as 'common sense realism'—took America by storm at precisely the right time to shape America fundamentally. Francis Hutcheson Francis Hutcheson: 'Our rights are either alienable or unalienable …' Related Stories 5/12/2025 5/11/2025 A revolution in thinking about our rights preceded the American Revolution. In the words of George Washington, America's founding took place during a time 'when the rights of mankind were better understood and more clearly defined than at any former period.' Hutcheson's analysis of our rights showed the way. The meaning of Hutcheson's distinction was sharp and clear in the founders' time but to understand it today you and I must first be clear about the meaning of 'alienable.' Here is its complete definition in my dictionary: ' adj. Law. Capable of being transferred to the ownership of another.' Your right to your car is an alienable right; because your car is your property, you can sell your car or give it away—but our rights to our lives and our liberty are unalienable, that is, not property, not capable of being transferred to the ownership of another. Hutcheson was challenging John Locke's account of our rights—and in so doing he helped ignite the American Revolution. Locke, you see, had Hutcheson's distinction provided the intellectual foundation for two of the greatest achievements in world history, Adam Smith's 'The Wealth of Nations' and the Declaration of Independence. Adam Smith's focus was our alienable rights; the American founders focused on our unalienable rights. The Declaration and 'Wealth' both entered the world they were to transform in the same year, 1776. 1776 marks the economic and political boundary between the world in which you and I live and all that had gone before. Adam Smith Francis Hutcheson mentored Adam Smith. Upon Hutcheson's death, Smith was appointed to the prestigious professorship at the University of Glasgow Hutcheson had held. Smith's epoch-making 'Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations' is the foundation of free market economics. Hutcheson's analysis of our rights set the direction Smith took. In 'Wealth' Smith famously demonstrated that the division of labor is the source of the wealth of nations. In one of the most frequently quoted passages from 'Wealth,' Smith makes clear the source in human nature of the all-important division of labor: 'This division of labour … is the necessary … consequence of a certain propensity in human nature … ; the propensity to truck, barter, and exchange one thing for another.' The division of labor depends on the right to exchange (alienate) our property and labor. We can 'truck, barter, and exchange' because our right to our property is, as Hutcheson had shown, 'naturally alienable.' The social order that resulted from the new thinking of the Scottish and the American Enlightenments was a far cry from the world that assigned supremacy to hereditary monarchs and hereditary aristocrats. The great economist Ludwig von Mises described that new social order like this: It 'assigned supremacy to the common man. In his capacity as a consumer, the 'regular fellow' was called upon to determine ultimately what should be produced, in what quantity, and of what quality, by whom, how, and where; in his capacity as a voter, he was sovereign in directing the nation's policies.' Thomas Reid When Jefferson wrote 'We hold these truths to be self-evident …' he was relying on the thinking of Thomas Reid. Reid's 'An Inquiry Into the Human Mind on the Principles of Common Sense' was published in 1764, the same year he was awarded the prestigious professorship formerly occupied by Francis Hutcheson and Adam Smith. As I write in my book 'Reclaiming Common Sense': 'Reid's philosophical purpose was to provide a foundation for morality and for knowledge. He argued that there is an endowment of human nature that makes both morality and knowledge possible, and he called it common sense … With it we are able to make rational judgments and moral judgments. Common sense is the human attribute that makes it possible for us to be rational creatures and moral agents. Reid's fundamental insight was that our ability to make sense of our experience presupposes certain first principles. Because these principles are implicit in our conduct and our thought, they cannot be proved; there are no other truths from which they can be derived. However, to deny or even to doubt any of them is to involve ourselves in absurdity. Consequently, the principles of common sense have the special authority of first principles: we cannot operate without them.' The Progressives From their beginning, the purpose of the Progressives has been the step-by-step—that is, the progressive—undoing of the America of the founders. Their relentless campaign has done tremendous damage. If you and I are to do our part in helping to restore America, we need to go into action armed with a clear understanding of the American Idea. That is why I wrote the two common sense books listed below. From Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Daily Record
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Record
Leading Scottish think tank changes name to avoid clash with Nigel Farage's Reform UK
Reform Scotland has rebranded and will now be known as Enlighten. One of Scotland's leading think tanks has changed its name to avoid "confusion" with Nigel Farage's Reform UK. Reform Scotland has rebranded and will now be known as Enlighten. This is despite it having the name since 2008 and the political party only taking the title in 2021. Enlighten's director Chris Deerin told The Herald: ' Reform UK had a very good general election, ended up with five MPs, and as we know from the polls, they are going to do quite well next year at the Holyrood election. 'And we started to find there was confusion arising when we were speaking to people and introducing ourselves. 'As we became aware that their prospects were actually pretty good, the confusion — even though we were here first — was there. 'We are obviously operating in the political world. They are operating in the political world. So, with some regret, we realised we would have to change our name. 'It was only when we had to change it that I realised how good a name Reform Scotland actually was. Because it was a statement of intent. We went to reform Scotland, and also it just worked as a kind of nomenclature.' Deerin said the new name is inspired by the Scottish Enlightenment and "the intellectual flourishing, the pragmatism, the empiricism, the intellectual courage that came then". The think tank focuses on economic growth, improved public services, and social opportunity. Farage's party have risen strongly in the polls over the past year, with recent surveys suggesting it could come second behind the SNP. The Record revealed on Saturday that Scottish Labour figures fear the party could come third behind the SNP and Reform in next month's Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election. It comes after Reform won the safe English seat of Runcorn and Helsby from Labour by just six votes earlier this month. UK-wide polls have suggested Farage's party could be the biggest party at the next general election. SNP First Minister John Swinney welcomed Reform Scotland's rebrand: 'Think tanks like Enlighten are a vitally important yet sometimes overlooked component of our democratic system. "Their findings can sometimes prove challenging, and politicians may not always support their conclusions. "But ultimately, this healthy divergence of opinion is a crucial element of a healthy and thriving democracy.' Labour's Scottish Secretary Ian Murray added: 'Enlighten is a great name for one of Scotland's foremost think tanks. The organisation is a key part of Scotland's political life, encouraging thoughtful debate across a range of issues.'
The Herald Scotland
18-05-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Scotland's leading think tank rebrands as Enlighten
Chris Deerin, Enlighten's director, said the decision to change a name in place in 2008 was made reluctantly but ultimately became an opportunity. 'Reform UK had a very good general election, ended up with five MPs, and as we know from the polls, they are going to do quite well next year at the Holyrood election. 'And we started to find there was confusion arising when we were speaking to people and introducing ourselves,' he told The Herald's Unspun Live podcast. 'As we became aware that their prospects were actually pretty good, the confusion — even though we were here first — was there. 'We are obviously operating in the political world. They are operating in the political world. So, with some regret, we realised we would have to change our name. 'It was only when we had to change it that I realised how good a name Reform Scotland actually was. Because it was a statement of intent. We went to reform Scotland, and also it just worked as a kind of nomenclature.' Mr Deerin said the new name evoked the spirit of the Scottish Enlightenment, "the intellectual flourishing, the pragmatism, the empiricism, the intellectual courage that came then". 'And we would like to think that that informs what we do. It also refers to the attempt to shed light on the challenges and the opportunities that Scotland faces," he said. The think tank will continue to focus on long-standing priorities, including economic growth, improved public services, and social opportunity. But Mr Deerin said the name change marks something of a moment of renewal. With the next Holyrood election less than a year away, Enlighten is working to influence party manifestos. Mr Deerin said he believes the think tank is better placed than ever to shape serious policy. 'We are more in demand from politicians, policymakers, and civil servants than we were five years ago. And that gives me hope,' he said. 'We are not changing our principles or the way we go about our business. We do research that is very much based on data and evidence. We are non–partisan. We are independent. "We produce research that we dig into the data and think, right, here is something that is not working properly, or something that is — but could be better. And we think, looking at all of that, here are some ideas we can propose.' Mr Deerin, a former journalist, said the Scottish Parliament's first quarter-century includes serious underperformance on education and health — two areas where Enlighten will continue to campaign for reform. 'I was there when the Parliament opened and I am a great supporter of the principle of devolution. But I do think that probably the past 25, 26 years now have been something of a missed opportunity at times. "I think when you look at our public services, they have not been reformed in the way that they might be. They have not been modernised. I think a lot of the vested interests in Scotland have not been challenged,' he said. 'If you were a poor kid in the East End of Glasgow in 1999, and you are still a poor kid in the East End in 2025 — have your life prospects been changed by the Scottish Parliament? That is a hard case to make. And it should not be.' Mr Deerin said Enlighten would remain 'fiercely' non–partisan and work with all parties, including Reform UK. 'We need to be interrogating Reform in the way that we interrogate the other parties, exposing their weaknesses, listening to their ideas. "If there are any there that are worth considering, then we should consider them. And if the ideas are ones we need to take down, we should take them down.' First Minister John Swinney welcomed the rebrand. He said: 'Think tanks like Enlighten are a vitally important yet sometimes overlooked component of our democratic system." "Their findings can sometimes prove challenging, and politicians may not always support their conclusions," he added. "But ultimately, this healthy divergence of opinion is a crucial element of a healthy and thriving democracy.' Scottish Secretary Ian Murray added: 'Enlighten is a great name for one of Scotland's foremost think tanks. The organisation is a key part of Scotland's political life, encouraging thoughtful debate across a range of issues.' Enlighten chair and former First Minister, Lord McConnell of Glenscorrodale, said: 'We have become Scotland's most influential think tank, just at the time when Holyrood and Westminster need fresh ideas and honest, challenging analysis to help our nation succeed, with opportunities for all to be successful. The time is right for a new name that reflects the breadth of our ambition. We aim to enlighten our public debate, and we will.'
Daily Record
11-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Fatcat chiefs at universities need a reality check
Scotland's universities face an unprecedented cash crisis but their pampered principles appear unable to climb down from their ivory towers. For years the sector has been cashing in on an international reputation for excellence dating back centuries. That reputation has everything to do with the Scottish Enlightenment of the 18th century when historic figures like Adam Smith and David Hume made huge advances in the fields of economics and philosophy. It has meant that in modern times students from around the world have flocked to our country to earn degrees that will be respected by leading employers on every continent. This success has very little to do with the relatively nonentities who now run these institutions while earning ridiculously inflated salaries. And now that the foreign student cash bonanza appears to be running out of steam it is time for these uni bosses to realise that the gravy train needs to stop. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. There is little evidence of this happening as can be seen from the Sunday Mail's exclusive revelations today concerning Professor James Miller, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West of Scotland (UWS). He earns a comically astronomical salary of £288,000 a year - almost double First Minister John Swinney. But he has still managed to rack up a further £37,429 on expenses in just two years jetting around the world to locations such as Barbados, Dubai and South Africa. It is difficult to imagine the 'strategic partnerships' he has been working on in these exotic locations will be of any great benefit to his students or the hundreds of his staff who are now facing redundancy. He is among 12 senior staff at UWS who have claimed more than £163,000 in travel expenses over the period. It is very likely this sort of extravagant spending on foreign trips will be replicated across other universities facing similar financial pressures as UWS. Meanwhile the universities of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Strathclyde and St Andrews are all paying their leaders £400,000 or more a year. These fatcats need to be given a lecture on accounting and humility and dramatically cut their own salaries and expenses in order to save at least a few of their hard working staff.
