The Democratic Intellect

Scotland and her Universities in the Nineteenth Century: Edinburgh Classic Editions

George Davie, Murdo Macdonald

• Publisher: EUP
• Year: 2013
• eBook ISBN: 9780748684793
• Edition: 2
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Subtopic: Democracy
• Index: Politics & International Relations

An Edinburgh Classic edition of the cornerstone work on Scotland's intellectual identityFirst published in 1961, The Democratic Intellect provoked a re-evaluation of Scotland's philosophy of itself. George Davie's account of the history of the movements which set Scotland apart from its neighbours, and of the great personalities involved, has proved seminal in restoring to Scotland a sense of the value of its unique cultural identity. Scotland's approach to higher education has always been distinctive. From the inauguration of its first universities, the accent was on first principles, and this broad, philosophical interpretation unified the approach to knowledge – even of mathematics and science. The resulting generalist tradition contrasted with the specialism of the two English universities, Oxford and Cambridge. It stood Scotland in good stead, characterising its intellectual life even into the nineteenth century when economic, social and political pressures enforced an increasing conformity to English models. The Democratic Intellect is rightly a benchmark in Scotland's intellectual heritage and continues to have a marked influence on those now promoting enquiry and improvement within our colleges and universities.An introduction by Murdo Macdonald and Richard Gunn and a foreword by Lindsay Paterson setthe book in context for this Classic Edition, reissued to coincide with the Scotland Independence debate of 2014. Key Features: New Edinburgh Classic edition at accessible price New preface and foreword setting the book in context Launches a series of Edinburgh Classics in Scottish History Will contribute to the Independence debate of 2014 Key words: Scotland, education, history, philosophy, classic, Enlightenment, George Davie Subject: Scottish History

Table of contents

• CONTENTS
• FOREWORD
• INTRODUCTION
• AUTHOR'S PREFACE ADN INTRODUCTORY ESSAY
• Part I UNIVERSITY POLITICS
• 1: The Presbyterian Inheritance
• 2. The First Assualt of 1826
• 3. Lorimer and the 1858 Commission
• 4. 1889: Surrender or Compromise?
• Part II THE CRISIS IN SCIENCE
• 5. The 1838 Contest for the Edinburgh Mathematical Chair
• 6. Mathematics Without Metaphysics
• 7. Geometry or Algebra?
• 8. The Humanistic Bias of Scottish Science
• Part III THE CRISIS IN CLASSICS
• 9. The Vernacular Basis of Scottish Humanism
• 10. Blood and Culture
• Part IV FERRIER AND COMMON SENSE
• 11. A Metropolis of Common Sense
• 12. Tensions in the Scottish Intellectual Camps
• 13. The Alienation of Common Sense
• 14. The Thirty Years War
• Notes
• Index