Philosophy and politics in later Stuart Scotland
Subtitle: neo-Stoicism, culture, and ideology in an age of crisis, 1540-1690
By: David Allan.
Publisher: Tuckwell Press
Published: 2000
Place of publication: East Linton, Scotland
Language: eng
Number of pages: 246
Subjects: Philosophy, Scottish.; Scotland -- Politics and government -- 17th century.; Scotland -- Politics and government -- 16th century.; Scotland -- Intellectual life -- 17th century.; Scotland -- Intellectual life -- 16th century.
Description: "During the later sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, Scotland's elite, divided by the Reformation and afflicted by political upheaval, found consolation, and sometimes inspiration, in the teachings of ancient philosophy. The neo-Stoicism with which they especially engaged was a versatile and cosmopolitan body of thought which had developed in response to chronic instability across Europe. Influenced by its ideas about public and private life, which were discussed in poetry and drama as well as in letters, meditations and extended scholarly treatises, they learned how to follow Stoic example - to prepare themselves for political duties, to confront the turbulence of their own world, and even to cultivate a justifiable retirement in the face of its irrational and uncontrollable furies. Examining figures as diverse as Buchanan, Drummond of Hawthornden, Hume of Godscroft, Gordon of Gordonstoun, the Marquis of Montrose, Alexander Ross, Robert Leighton and Sir George Mackenzie, this original study traces the attempt by educated Scots to transpose Roman morality onto early-modern society, providing at the same time a unique insight into the mental outlook and cultural horizons of the later Stuart elite."--Jacket.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [221]-237) and index.