# Adam Ferguson

> Scottish philosopher and historian; (1723-1816)

**Wikidata**: [Q183094](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q183094)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Ferguson)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/adam-ferguson

## Summary
Adam Ferguson was a Scottish philosopher and historian (1723–1816) known for his foundational contributions to political economy and sociology. He is best recognized for his work *An Essay on the History of Civil Society*, which laid the groundwork for modern social science by analyzing the development of human societies from prehistoric times to the Industrial Revolution.

## Biography
- Born: June 20, 1723, Raith, Scotland
- Nationality: Scottish
- Education: Studied at the University of Edinburgh and the University of St Andrews
- Known for: Authoring *An Essay on the History of Civil Society*, a foundational work in political economy and sociology
- Employer(s): University of Edinburgh, Advocates Library
- Field(s): Philosophy, political economy, sociology

## Contributions
Adam Ferguson's most significant contributions include:
- *An Essay on the History of Civil Society* (1767), a landmark work in political economy and sociology that analyzed the development of human societies from prehistoric times to the Industrial Revolution. This work introduced the concept of the "invisible hand" and laid the groundwork for modern social science.
- *The Principles of Moral and Political Philosophy* (1776), a philosophical work that explored moral principles and political theory, influencing later thinkers in political philosophy.
- *The History of the Progress of the Human Mind* (1776), a historical analysis of the development of human thought, contributing to the study of intellectual history.

## References

1. [Source](http://archiveshub.ac.uk/data/gb237-coll-138)
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