Why read The Democratic Intellect?

Book cover of The Democratic Intellect: Scotland and Her Universities in the Nineteenth Century

Book description

An Edinburgh Classic edition of the cornerstone work on Scotland's intellectual identity First published in 1961, The Democratic Intellect provoked a re-evaluation of Scotland's philosophy of itself. George Davie's account of the history of the movements which set Scotland apart from its neighbours, and of the great personalities involved, has…

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Democratic Intellect as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Billy Kay

Author

One of the most important works on Scottish intellectual history and not as well known by the reading public as it should be. It was seminal in my own appreciation of Scottish culture and of the necessity to fight to continue the traditions described in the book—the broad-based education, the social egalitarianism, and recogniton of the importance of the vernacular Scots contribution to the unique culture we have. This democratic intellectualism went on to influence universities in America such as Princeton and colleges across Africa where Scots Presbyterian missionaries held sway.

From Billy's list on proving the world, and the Universe, is Scottish.