On Ferguson's Historiography

Adam Ferguson's historical writing caused a immense sensation in Europe and America of the Enlightenment period. However, after he died, it faded from people's horizon gradually so that Thompson said"Adam Ferguson need only be mentioned briefly"in his A History of Historical Writing, which has still been the main current evaluation for Ferguson's achievement of historiography in the academic field. This dissertation will study Ferguson's achievement of historiography by combining his two most important historical works An Essay on the History of Civil Society, The History of the Progress and Termination of the Roman Republic, his single historical dissertation Of History and its Appropriate Stile with his political and philosophical works, through which we hope scholars can reassess the special historian of Scotland in thinking .The rapid development of economy and the large-scale expansion of military affairs made Ferguson have deep thinking for history. In fact, the intention of his study for the reasons of the progress and termination of the Roman Republic was to supply guide for the Britain development, which avoided making Britain repeat its tragedy. Ferguson's sources of historical thought were various. The classical scholars, the modern historians and tradition of learning and his experience engendered important effect for his historiography. It's necessary to indicate that the scholars often associate Ferguson's academic thought with his highland background when discussing Ferguson's source of thought. Actually, from Ferguson's attitude and views for the authenticity of ancient collections of poems of Ossian disputed hotly in the 18th century, he didn't show special highland passion.Ferguson's historiography has obvious double characteristics. On the one hand, as one of leaders of Enlightenment in the 18th century, Ferguson's historiography reflected distinct traits of rationalism. On the other hand, his many historical ideas also displayed the difference with the rationalism historiography in the 18th century. For example, he argued the history was progressive, but indicated that the history couldn't make linear progress; his historiography reflected obviously moralistic characteristic and the function of use for reference, but he also underlined pursuing facts was the essence of history and advocated the historical style of"relating but not judging". Moreover, Adam Ferguson's historical thought embodied extremely leading nature. He advanced many exceedingly analogous thoughts as Vico. The reconcilable characteristics in Ferguson's historiography were much evident, which were displayed by his reconciliation in the problem of historical progress, in the driving force of historical development, in the two modern philosophical trend of thought empiricism and rationalism. The systemic discussion of Ferguson for the nature of pursuing facts of historiography made him open up the modern Objectivism Historiography, while his notions of historicism, his great praise for the rude people and criticism for modern civilization made him become the pioneer of modern Romanticism Historiography as well as Rousseau.The historical works of Ferguson caused an extensive effect in Europe and America at that time. Impact of his An Essay on the History of Civil Society, The History of the Progress and Termination of the Roman Republic, all exceed Britain and were translated into several language to spread in the Continent and America. At the same time, they also led to the drastic controversy during scholars in the 18th century and later times for their value in learning. Ferguson's historiography gave rise to important influence for many scholars, especially the German scholars, such as Kant, Herder, Haman, Schiller, Hegel and so on.