Hutcheson, Francis (1694–1746)

Abstract Francis Hutcheson (1694–1746) was Professor of Moral Philosophy at the University of Glasgow from 1729 to 1746. He is generally acknowledged as the “father” of the Scottish Enlightenment but his influence was not limited to Scotland. His thought informed the political thinking of the American Revolution partly because he endorsed the radical argument that, should government abuse its entrusted power, the people have the right of resistance. Hutcheson was also an early critic of slavery: in the original state of nature all are equal and since the desire for “liberty … property and … safety” is universal, there is “no right to assume power over others, without their consent.” These ideas made their way into American abolitionist discourses and underline that Hutcheson's political philosophy was more radical than that of his Scottish “moral sense” successors.