A Brief Retrospect of the Eighteenth Century

Miller's "A Brief Retrospect of the Eighteenth Century" was one of the first attempts to give a comprehensive account of the intellectual history of American thought. Encompassing a wide range of topics, the 2-volume work traces in detail the developments in American science, art and literature, taking in comparisons with other traditions. The study includes a thorough review of the history of philosophy, with discussions of Hume, Berkeley, Newton, Kant, Descartes and Malebranche among others. There are also sections on American biblical scholarship, on the impact of Scottish moral philosophy on enlightened America, and critiques of Darwin and Priestley.