Scottish Enlightenment

A Legacy of Literacy and Innovation

There are moments in history when the right conditions are set in place to make a particular region or period extremely fertile for innovation and the development of ideas, with the Renaissance being the poster child example. One example, sometimes overlooked, is the Scottish Enlightenment, which led to some of the most brilliant minds of the 18th century, like David Hume and Adam Smith.

The origins of the Scottish Enlightenment can be traced back to the Calvinist Reformation of the Scottish church in the 16th century, which led to the emergence of the Presbyterian Church. This new church placed a high emphasis on literacy, believing that people should be able to read the Bible independently. In 1661, the church mandated that every Scottish town employ a schoolmaster proficient in Latin, while rural parishes were expected to have a minister capable of providing basic education to the youth.

By the mid-18th century, the effects of these educational policies were evident, with Scotland achieving a literacy rate that was among the highest in Europe at the time; 75 percent of Scots were literate by 1750. This led to enduring contributions like the creation of the Encyclopaedia Britannica, first published in Edinburgh in 1768. It also pushed innovations in universities, where, unlike English universities of the time, Scottish institutions were pioneers in allowing faculty members to specialize in specific subjects rather than teaching a broad curriculum.

The Scottish Enlightenment not only transformed Scottish society but also left a lasting impact on the broader world. Its emphasis on education, critical thinking, and specialization laid foundational principles that would influence future generations and help propel the modern age of science and reason.

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