Sketches of the History of Man. Lord Kames (Henry Home)

Origin of Men and of Languages,

      BOOK I.

      Progress of Men independent of Society.

      Sketch

      1. Progress respecting food and population,

      2. Progress of property,

      3. Origin and progress of commerce,

      4. Origin and progress of arts,

      Sect.

1. Useful arts,

2. Progress of taste and of the fine arts,

      5. Manners,

      VOL. II.

      Sk.

      6. Progress of the female sex,

      Appendix,

      Concerning propagation of animals, and care of progeny,

      7. Progress and effects of luxury,

      BOOK II.

      Progress of Men in Society.

      Sk.

      1. Appetite for society—Origin of national societies, <x>

      2. General view of government,

      3. Different forms of government compared,

      4. Progress of states from small to great, and from great to small,

      5. Great and small states compared,

      6. War and peace compared,

      7. Rise and fall of patriotism,

      8. Finances,

      Preface,

      Sect.

      1. General considerations on taxes,

      2. Power of imposing taxes,

      3. Different sorts of taxes, with their advantages and disadvantages,

      4. Manner of levying taxes,

      5. Rules to be observed in taxing,

      6. Taxes examined with respect to their effects,

      7. Taxes for advancing industry and commerce,

      VOL. III.

      Sk.

      9. Military branch of government,

      10. Public police with respect to the poor,

      11. A great city considered in physical, moral, and political views,

      12. Origin and progress of American nations,

      BOOK III.

      Progress of Sciences.

      Sk.

      1. Principles and progress of reason, <xi>

      Sect.

      1. Principles of reason,

      2. Progress of reason,

      Appendix,

      A brief account of Aristotle’s logic, With remarks,

      Chap.

      1. Of the first three treatises,

      2. Remarks,

      3. Account of the First Analytics,

      4. Remarks,

      5. Account of the remaining books of the Organon,

      6. Reflections on the utility of logic, and the means of its improvement,

      VOL. IV.

      Sk.

      2. Principles and progress of morality,

      Part

      1. Principles of morality,

      Sect.

      1. Human actions analysed,

      2. Division of human actions into right, wrong, and indifferent,

      3. Laws of nature respecting our moral conduct in society,

      4. Principles of duty and of benevolence,

      5. Laws respecting rewards and punishments, <xii>

      6. Laws respecting reparation,

      7. Final causes of the foregoing laws of nature,

      8. Liberty and necessity considered with respect to morality,

      Appendix,

      Upon chance and contingency,

      Part

      2. Progress of morality,

      Sk.

      3. Principles and progress of theology,

      Chap.

      1. Existence of a Deity,

      2. Progress of opinions with respect to Deity,

      3. Religious worship,

      Sect.

      1. Religious worship,

      2. Morality considered as a branch of duty to our Maker,

      APPENDIX.

      Sketches concerning Scotland.

      Sk.

      1. Scotch entails considered in moral and political views,

      2. Government of royal boroughs in Scotland,

      3. Plan for improving and preserving in order the high ways in Scotland, <1>

SKETCHES OF THE HISTORY OF MAN.

      The Human Species is in every view an interesting subject, and has been in every age the chief inquiry of philosophers. The faculties of the mind have been explored, and the affections of the heart; but there is still wanting a history of the species, in its progress from the savage state to its highest civilization and improvement. Above thirty years ago, the author began to collect materials for that history; and, in the vigour of youth, did not think the undertaking too bold even for a single hand: but, in the progress of the work, he found<2> his abilities no more than sufficient for executing a few imperfect Sketches. These are brought under the following heads. 1. Progress of Men independent of Society. 2. Progress of Men in Society. 3. Progress of the Sciences. To explain these heads a preliminary discourse is necessary; which is, to examine, Whether all men be of one lineage, descended from a single pair, or whether there be different races originally distinct.¹<3>

      PRELIMINARY DISCOURSE, concerning the Origin of MEN and of LANGUAGES.¹

      Whether there are different races of men, or whether all men are of one race without any difference but what proceeds from climate or other external cause, is a question which philosophers differ