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]
Edition: 10
Language: English
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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 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