Essays on Philosophical Subjects

✍ Scribed by Adam Smith; William Persehouse Delisle Wrightman (editor); J. C. Bryce (editor); Dugold Stewart; Ian Simpson Ross

• Publisher: Liberty Fund
• Year: 1982
• Tongue: English
• Leaves: 391
• Series: Glasgow edition of the works and correspondence of Adam Smith
• Category: Library

✦ Synopsis

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).

✦ Table of Contents

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