The Democratic Intellect

This is an Edinburgh Classic edition of a seminal work on Scotland's intellectual identity. First published in 1961, The Democratic Intellect provoked a new relationship with Scotland's philosophy of itself. Scotland has always had a distinctive approach to higher education. From the inauguration of its first universities, the accent has been on first principles. This unified the approach to knowledge - even of mathematics and science - through a broad, philosophical interpretation. This generalist tradition, contrasting with the specialism of the two English universities, Oxford and Cambridge, stood Scotland in good stead. It characterised its intellectual life, even into the nineteenth century, when economic, social and political pressures enforced an increasing conformity to English models. George Davie's account of the history of these movements, and of the great personalities involved, has proved seminal in restoring to Scotland a sense of cultural identity. The Democratic Intellect is rightly a benchmark in Scotland's intellectual heritage and continues to have a marked influence on those promoting enquiry and improvement within our colleges and universities.
New Edinburgh Classic edition at accessible price. New preface and foreword setting the book in context. It launches a series of Edinburgh Classics in Scottish History. It will contribute to the Independence debate of 2014.