Locke, Shaftesbury, and Hutcheson

Daniel Carey examines afresh the fundamental debate within theEnlightenment about human diversity. Three central figures - Locke,Shaftesbury, and Hutcheson - questioned whether human nature wasfragmented by diverse and incommensurable customs and beliefs orunified by shared moral and religious principles. Locke's critiqueof innate ideas initiated the argument, claiming that no consensusexisted in the world about morality or God's existence. Testimonyof human difference established this point. His position wasdisputed by the third Earl of Shaftesbury who reinstated a Stoicaccount of mankind as inspired by common ethical convictions and animpulse toward the divine. Hutcheson attempted a difficultsynthesis of these two opposing figures, respecting Locke'scritique while articulating a moral sense that structured humannature. Daniel Carey concludes with an investigation of therelationship between these arguments and contemporary theories, andshows that current conflicting positions reflect long-standingdifferences that first emerged during the Enlightenment.