Adam Ferguson

Adam Ferguson, FRSE (Scottish Gaelic: Adhamh MacFhearghais), also known as Ferguson of Raith (1 July N.S. /20 June O.S. 1723 – 22 February 1816), was a Scottish philosopher and historian of the Scottish Enlightenment.

Adam Ferguson
Adam Ferguson as painted by Joshua Reynolds in 1782
Born(1723-06-20)20 June 1723
Logierait, Perthshire, Scotland
Died22 February 1816(1816-02-22) (aged 92)
St Andrews, Fife, Scotland
Alma materUniversity of Edinburgh
University of St Andrews
Era18th-century philosophy
RegionWestern philosophy
SchoolScottish Common Sense Realism
Scottish Enlightenment
InstitutionsUniversity of Edinburgh
Main interests
Sociology, political philosophy, ethics, history

Ferguson was sympathetic to traditional societies, such as the Highlands, for producing courage and loyalty. He criticized commercial society as making men weak, dishonourable and unconcerned for their community. Ferguson has been called "the father of modern sociology" for his contributions to the early development of the discipline. His best-known work is his Essay on the History of Civil Society.

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