The Gothic Origin of Modern Civility: Mandeville and the Scots on Courage

Journal of Scottish Philosophy 12 (1):51-69 (2014)
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Abstract

This paper seeks to establish that Bernard Mandeville's ideas on courage and honour shaped the Scottish debate about ancients and moderns by formulating a perspective how eighteenth-century civil societies grew large, luxurious and feminine without losing their ability to wage war. My focus is on Mandeville's positive influence on David Hume, whose writings were a springboard for many Mandevillean ideas in Scotland. In contrast to a recent claim in scholarship, Hume aimed to discredit, instead of developing, Shaftesburyan ideas of ancient courage. The concluding part of the paper will discuss Andrew Millar and Adam Ferguson in this context.

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Editorial Introduction: Scottish Reactions to Mandeville.Remy Debes - 2014 - Journal of Scottish Philosophy 12 (1):v-viii.

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References found in this work

An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Morals.David Hume - 1751 - New York,: Oxford University Press UK. Edited by Tom L. Beauchamp.
Essays, Moral, Political, and Literary.David Hume - 1875 - Indianapolis: Liberty Press. Edited by Eugene F. Miller.
The fable of the bees, or, Private vices, publick benefits.Bernard Mandeville - 1924 - Indianapolis: Liberty Classics. Edited by F. B. Kaye.

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