Scottish Philosophy

Scottish Philosophy - jewel in the crown of the 18th Century Enlightenment

Three hundred years ago, compared to rich populous countries like England, France and Italy, Scotland was a small, poor country on the fringes of Europe.

This makes the story of Scottish Philosophy all the more remarkable. With names like David Hume and Adam Smith, the list of Scotland's philosophers includes some of the Western world’s most influential thinkers. Their writings exerted a wide and lasting influence on science, education, politics and society, not just in Europe but North America, Asia and Australia.

The Institute for the Study of Scottish Philosophy exists to promote and extend interest in the Scottish philosophical tradition. We invite you to explore the ISSP website and discover more about its history, membership of the ISSP, the Journal of Scottish Philosophy, as well as relevant conferences, and related societies.

We warmly invite you to become a member of The Institue for the Study of Scottish Philosophy.