An Essay on the History of Civil Society, 8th edition

An Essay on the History of Civil
Society, 8th edition

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Title: An Essay on the History of Civil Society, Eighth Edition
Author: Adam Ferguson, L.L.D.
Release Date: August, 2005 [EBook #8646] [Yes, we are more than
one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on July 29,

2003]
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OF CIVIL SOCIETY ***

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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