An essay on the history of civil society
By: By Adam Ferguson ...
Edition: The third edition, corrected.
Publisher: Printed for A. Millar and T. Cadell ... and A. Kincaid and J. Bell, Edinburgh.
Published: 1768
Place of publication: London
Language: eng
Number of pages: 464
Subjects: Social sciences; Civilization; History
Description: Generally regarded as the first English work in empirical sociology. It was frequently reprinted, both in England and America, and was translated into German and French. Ferguson, a leader of the Scottish Enlightenment, describes the stages of social evolution -- "the first natural history of society." This same edition was in the library of Thomas Jefferson, and it was advertised for sale in the Virginia Gazette, in Williamsburg. --from bookseller's description.
Notes: Verso of p. [vii] a blank.

ESTC t075304
Table of contents: title: Part I. Of the general characteristics of human nature :; title: section 1. Of the question relating to the state of nature; title: section 2. Of the principles of self-preservation; title: section 3. Of the principles of union among mankind; title: section 4. Of the principles of war and dissension; title: section 5. Of intellectual powers; title: section 6. Of moral sentiment; title: section 7. Of happiness; title: section 8. The same subject continued; title: section 9. Of national felicity; title: section 10. The same subject continued; title: Part II. Of the history of rude nations :; title: section 1. Of the informations on this subject, which are derived from antiquity; title: section 2. Of rude nations prior to the establishment of property; title: section 3. Of rude nations, under the impressions of property and interest; title: Part III. Of the history of policy and arts :; title: section 1. Of the influence of climate and situation; title: section 2. The history of subordination; title: ^; title: section 3. Of national objects in general, and of establishments and manners relating to them; title: section 4. Of population and wealth; title: section 5. Of national defence and conquest; title: section 6. Of civil liberty; title: section 7. Of the history of arts; title: section 8. Of the history of literature; title: Part IV. Of consequences that result from the advancement of civil and commercial arts :; title: section 1. Of the separation of arts and professions; title: section 2. Of the subordination consequent to the separation of arts and professions; title: section 3. Of the manners of polished and commercial nations; title: section 4. The same subject continued; title: Part V. Of the decline of nations :; title: section 1. Of supposed national eminence, and of the vicissitudes of human affairs; title: section 2. Of the temporary efforts and relaxations of the national spirit; title: section 3. Of relaxations in national spirit incident to polished nations; title: section 4. The same subject continued; title: section 5. Of national waste; title: ^; title: Part VI. Of corruption and political slavery :; title: section 1. Of corruption in general; title: section 2. Of luxury; title: section 3. Of the corruption incident to polished nations; title: section 4. The same subject continued; title: section 5. Of corruption, as it tends to political slavery; title: section 6. Of the progress and termination of despotism.