Adam Smith

I was reading a post recently about The Enlightenment when I realised that it wasn’t The Enlightenment as I know it because to me it is The Scottish Enlightenment an 18th century movement. Then Scotland was described as a hotbed of genius. According to Voltaire:

‘We look to Scotland for all our ideas of civilisation’

(‘Nous nous tournons vers l’Écosse pour trouver toutes nos idées sur la civilisation’)

Hume and Rousseau

So it was a bit of a slap in the face when it dawned on me that some people have absolutely no idea about The Scottish Enlightenment and indeed seem to think that The Enlightenment was an English/American entity.

The only explanation is that we in Scotland must just have been far too shy and retiring about it – instead of blowing our own trumpets as we should have been. I’m thinking of those tea towels which you see in tourist shops printed with all the famous discoveries and inventions and the Scots who were responsible for them! We need a tea towel with all of the 18th century movers and shakers of Scotland printed on it, Adam Smith, David Hume and the like. Did you know that The Encyclopaedia Brittanica was a product of the Scottish Enlightenment, founded in Edinburgh.

But have I read anything by those luminaries? Have I whack! So it’s about time that I did and I’m setting myself a challenge to read at least one book by a Scottish Enlightenment figure – before the end of the year. It’ll fit nicely into the Read Scotland 2014 Challenge too. Join in if you think you’re brave enough!

The photographs are of just a few of the embroidered panels which make up The Great Tapestry of Scotland which is on show at The Scottish Parliament at the moment and entry is free.