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In light of the fact that Francis Hutcheson (1694-1746) was one of the most influential philosophers of the Scottish Enlightenment, it is remarkable that there has never been an edition of his correspondence. Hutcheson's epistolary offerings include letters published in journals in England, Ireland, and the Netherlands. These letters and occasional writings exhibit his polemical skills in controversy, his differences with Presbyterian orthodoxy, his preoccupation with religious and intellectual liberty, and his loyalty and lasting affection for his friends. Hutcheson engaged in extensive public polemics, not least to defend his major works but also to promote other causes. These incidental writings provide valuable insight into Hutcheson's more substantial treatises. His private correspondence and such documents as his will and the declaration he made upon becoming a professor at the University of Glasgow give the reader an impression of Hutcheson's personality and his various life experiences.
In light of the fact that Francis Hutcheson (1694-1746) was one of the most influential philosophers of the Scottish Enlightenment, it is remarkable that there has never been an edition of his correspondence. Hutcheson's epistolary offerings include letters published in journals in England, Ireland, and the Netherlands. These letters and occasional writings exhibit his polemical skills in controversy, his differences with Presbyterian orthodoxy, his preoccupation with religious and intellectual liberty, and his loyalty and lasting affection for his friends. Hutcheson engaged in extensive public polemics, not least to defend his major works but also to promote other causes. These incidental writings provide valuable insight into Hutcheson's more substantial treatises. His private correspondence and such documents as his will and the declaration he made upon becoming a professor at the University of Glasgow give the reader an impression of Hutcheson's personality and his various life experiences.