Description

Francis Hutcheson was one of the most influential figures in the Scottish enlightenment. The 59 personal letters published in this volume are invaluable sources for his biography, his professional and public persona, and his network and influential role in both Ireland and Scotland. They are striking for his loyalty and lasting affection for his friends, and several letters offer important insights into his ideas and his writings. The public correspondence and occasional writings include series of letters published in journals in England, Ireland, and the Netherlands and pamphlets and other pieces that substantially supplement his well-known works on philosophy, politics, and religion. These important writings exhibit his polemical skills in controversy, his differences with Presbyterian orthodoxy, and his preoccupation with religious and intellectual liberty.