Home > Francis Hutcheson (philosopher)
Francis Hutcheson ( August 8, 1694 - 1746) was an Irish philosopher.1 Beginnings
He is thought to have been born at Drumalig, in the parish of Saintfield, County Down, Northern Ireland. Though the family had originated from Ayrshire, Scotland, both his father and grandfather were ministers of dissenting congregations in the north of Ireland. Hutcheson was educated partly by his grandfather, partly at an academy, where according to his biographer, Dr Leechman, he was taught "the ordinary scholastic philosophy which was in vogue in those days." In 1710 he entered the University of Glasgow, where he spent six years, at first in the study of philosophy, classics and general literature, and afterwards in the study of theology.
On leaving university, he returned to northern Ireland, and received a licence to preach. When, however, he was about to enter upon the pastorate of a small dissenting congregation he changed his plans on the advice of a friend and opened a private academy in Dublin. In Dublin his literary attainments gained him the friendship of many prominent inhabitants. Among these was Archbishop of Dublin, William King, who refused to prosecute Hutcheson in the archbishop's court for keeping a school without the episcopal licence. Hutcheson's relations with the clergy of the Established Church, especially with King and with Hugh Boulter (the archbishop of Armagh) seem to have been cordial, and his biographer, speaking of "the inclination of his friends to serve him, the schemes proposed to him for obtaining promotion," etc., probably refers to some offers of preferment, on condition of his accepting episcopal ordination.
While residing in Dublin, Hutcheson published anonymously the four essays by which he is best known: the Inquiry concerning Beauty, Order, Harmony and Design, the Inquiry concerning Moral Good and Evil, in 1725, the Essay on the Nature and Conduct of the Passions and Affections and Illustrations upon the Moral Sense, in 1728. The alterations and additions made in the second edition of these Essays were published in a separate form in 1726. To the period of his Dublin residence are also to be referred the Thoughts on Laughter (a criticism of Thomas Hobbes) and the Observations on the Fable of the Bees, being in all six letters contributed to Hibernicus' Letters, a periodical which appeared in Dublin (1725-1727, 2nd ed. 1734). At the end of the same period occurred the controversy in the London Journal with Gilbert Burnet (probably the second son of Dr Gilbert Burnet, bishop of Salisbury); on the "True Foundation of Virtue or Moral Goodness." All these letters were collected in one volume (Glasgow, 1772).
In 1729Events July 30 Baltimore, Maryland is founded. First printing press was established in Ottoman Empire (app. 300 years after it was first used in western civilization) by Ibrahim Muteferrika. Births January 12 Edmund Burke, statesman, philosopher January 2, Hutcheson succeeded his old master, Gershom CarmichaelGershom Carmichael (c. 1672- 1729), Scottish philosopher, was born probably in London, the son of a Presbyterian minister who had been banished by the Scottish privy council for his religious opinions. He graduated at Edinburgh University in 1691, and bec, in the chair of moral philosophy at the University of Glasgow. It is curious that up to this time all his essays and letters had been published anonymously, though their authorship appears to have been well known. In 1730Events Pope Clement XII elected September 17 Change of emperor of the Ottoman Empire from Ahmed III ( 1703-1730) to Mahmud I (1730- 1754) Anna Ivanova ( Anna I of Russia) became czarina Births July 12 Josiah Wedgwood, potter (died 1795) July 26 Charles Me he entered on the duties of his office, delivering an inaugural lecture (afterwards published), De naturali hominum socialitate. He appreciated having leisure for his favourite studies; "non levi igitur laetitia commovebar cum almam matrem Academiam me, suum olim alumnum, in libertatem asseruisse audiveram." Yet the works on which Hutcheson's reputation rests had already been published.
The remainder of his life was devoted to professorial duties. His reputation as a teacher attracted many young men from dissenting families of England and Ireland, and was popular with both pupils and colleagues. Though quick-tempered, he was kind and generous. He was accused in 1738 before the Glasgow presbyteryA presbytery can be the residence of one or more priests or religious elders; or an area of a church or cathedral reserved for priests; or the collective college of priests in a diocese, archdiocese, or prelature; or the local unit in the polity of a Presfor "following two false and dangerous doctrines: first, that the standard of moral goodness was the promotion of the happiness of others; and second, that we could have a knowledge of good and evil without and prior to a knowledge of God" (Rae, Life of Adam Smith, 1895). The accusation seems to have had no result.
