The opening of Chapter XXXV
History of Scottish Philosophy――Carmichael――Hutcheson.
IN the closing chapter of the third volume an outline of the history of European philosophy in the seventeenth century and the early part of the eighteenth was given, as a preliminary to the history of Scottish philosophy. It was shown that although this speculative movement had arisen and assumed importance in the seventeenth century, it was not felt in Scotland in its philosophical form till during the century following. This movement, with its scrutinising spirit, was partly a result of the great religious revolution of the sixteenth century, with which, in its religious and political consequences, Scotland was deeply affected. On the continent the earlier efforts of the movement were somewhat halting, wavering, and doubtful; but at last the human mind launched into the regions of speculation and scientific investigation with vigour and freedom, and on the scientific side attained a marked degree of success. The sources whence Scottish philosophy drew the materials which were not original to itself, may be indicated thus:――1. The mental philosophy of Greece, especially the ethics and metaphysics of Aristotle, chiefly by Hutcheson, and the later development of Hamilton. 2.