Essays on Philosophical Subjects

Description

Reflecting Adam Smith’s wide learning and varied interests, these essays shed considerable light on his place in the Scottish Enlightenment. Included are histories of astronomy, ancient logic, and ancient physics; essays on the “imitative” arts and the affinity between music, dancing, and poetry; and a critical review of Samuel Johnson’s famous Dictionary, which Smith originally published in the Edinburgh Review (1755–1756). Title Page Publishing Details Preface Table of Contents Key To Abbreviations and References General Introduction, p. 1 Essays on Philosophical Subjects Introduction, p. 5 Bibliographical Note, p. 28 History of Astronomy, p. 31 Advertisement by the Editors, p. 32 Section I. Of the Effect of Unexpectedness, or of Surprise, p. 34 Section II. Of Wonder, or of the Effects of Novelty, p. 37 Section III. Of the Origin of Philosophy, p. 48 Section IV. The History of Astronomy, p. 53 Note by the Editors, p. 105 History of the Ancient Physics, p. 106 History of the Ancient Logics and Metaphysics, p. 118 Of the External Senses, p. 131 Introduction, p. 133 Of the Sense of Touching, p. 135 Of the Sense of Tasting, p. 142 Of the Sense of Smelling, p. 142 Of the Sense of Hearing, p. 143 Of the Sense of Seeing, p. 148 Of the Affinity between Music, Dancing, and Poetry, p. 169 Introduction, p. 171 Of the Nature of that Imitation Which Takes Place in What are Called The Imitative Arts, p. 176 Part I, p. 176 Part II, p. 187 Part III, p. 207 Of the Affinity between Certain English and Italian Verses, p. 215 Of the Affinity between Certain English and Italian Verses, p. 220 Introduction, p. 217 Contributions to the Edinburgh Review of 1755-56, p. 227 Appendix: Passages quoted from Rousseau, p. 255 Introduction, p. 229 Review of Johnson's Dictionary, p. 232 Letter to the Edinburgh Review, p. 242 Preface and Dedication to William Hamilton's Poems on Several Occasions, p. 257 Dedication to William Hamilton's Poems on Several Occasions (1758), p. 262 Preface to William Hamilton's Poems on Several Occasions (1748), p. 261 Introduction, p. 259 Dugald Stewart: Account of the Life and Writings of Adam Smith, LL.D., p. 263 Notes to the Life of Adam Smith, LL.D., p. 333 Introduction, p. 265 Section I. From Mr. Smith's Birth till the publication of the Theory of Moral Sentiments, p. 269 Section II. Of the Theory of Moral Sentiments, and the Dissertation on the Origin of Languages, p. 278 Section III. From the Publication of The Theory of Moral Sentiments, till tha tof The Wealth of Nations, p. 300 Section IV. Of the Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, p. 309 Section V. Conclusion of the Narrative, p. 325 Index of Persons, p. 353 End of the Book, p. 358