The Democratic Intellect: Scotland and Her Universities in the Nineteenth Century (Edinburgh University publications) - Softcover

Davie, George Elder

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0748612742 ISBN 13: 9780748612741

Publisher: Edinburgh University Press, 1999

Synopsis

Scotland has always had a distinctive approach to higher education. From the inauguration of its first universities, the accent has been on first principles. This unified the approach to knowledge - even of mathematics and science - through a broad, philosophical interpretation. This generalist tradition, contrasting with the specialism of the two English universities, Oxford and Cambridge, stood Scotland in good stead. It characterised its intellectual life, even into the nineteenth century, when economic, social and political pressures enforced an increasing conformity to English models. George Davie's account of the history of these movements, and of the great personalities involved, has proved seminal in restoring to Scotland a sense of cultural identity. Originally published in 1961, The Democratic Intellect has had a marked -and acknowledged - influence on the thinking of those in power in higher education, and indeed upon the subsequent planning of several of the new universities, not only in Scotland. Professor David Daiches called it "timely and provocative". So it remains today.

About this title

About the Author

George Elder Davie is a retired lecturer in logic and metaphysics at the University of Edinburgh.

From the Back Cover

‘Davie offers an insight into some of the more crucial issues of modern times. A truly seminal work in the Scottish intellectual tradition.’James KelmanFirst published in 1961, The Democratic Intellect provoked a new relationship with Scotland’s philosophy of itself.Scotland has always had a distinctive approach to higher education. From the inauguration of its first universities, the accent has been on first principles. This unified the approach to knowledge - even of mathematics and science - through a broad, philosophical interpretation. This generalist tradition, contrasting with the specialism of the two English universities, Oxford and Cambridge, stood Scotland in good stead. It characterised its intellectual life, even into the 19th century, when economic, social and political pressures enforced an increasing conformity to English models. George Davie's account of the history of these movements, and of the great personalities involved, has proved seminal in restoring to Scotland a sense of cultural identity.The Democratic Intellect is rightly regarded as a benchmark in Scotland’s intellectual heritage and continues to have a marked influence on those promoting enquiry and improvement within our colleges and universities.George Elder Davie (1912–2007) was one of Scotland’s most influential modern philosophers. He was Reader in Logic and Metaphysics at the University of Edinburgh and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. His other publications include The Crisis of the Democratic Intellect, The Scotch Metaphysics: a Century of Enlightenment in Scotland and two volumes of essays: The Scottish Enlightenment and Other Essays and A Passion for Ideas.

Edition details

• Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0748612742
• ISBN 13: 9780748612741
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 392