The Case for the Enlightenment

Focusing on the intellectual evolution in Scotland and Naples, this study explores how both regions transitioned from provincial obscurity to the forefront of Enlightenment thought by 1760. It highlights the shared intellectual pursuits of thinkers like David Hume and Giambattista Vico, emphasizing their contributions to political economy. By examining the social and institutional frameworks that shaped their ideas, the book challenges the notion of multiple Enlightenments, revealing a more interconnected European intellectual landscape during the eighteenth century.