John Millar

John Millar ( June 22, 1735 , † May 30, 1801 ) was a Scottish lawyer , philosopher and historian .

Life

Born in Lanarkshire , Millar studied in Glasgow from 1746 until the 1750s. During his studies he became one of the most important followers of Adam Smith , the founder of economic science, and was greatly influenced by his logic and moral theory. This influence can only be partially recognized in his writings; much was revealed in his later lectures. After graduating, he took a position with Henry Home Kames before he was admitted to the bar in 1760. In 1761 he was appointed Regius Professor of Civil Law at the University of Glasgow and taught Roman law , which was then relevant to English private law . Millar encouraged his students to debate and converse. His lectures brought him national fame.

Millar supported American independence, spoke out against the slave trade and the war against the France of the Revolution.

One of his sons, James, became a professor of mathematics, also in Glasgow.

Works

The origin of the difference in the hierarchies and classes of society

Werner Sombart noted that this underrated book had been translated into German and commented on several times shortly after its publication, but that afterwards it was completely lost, although it contained one of the best and most complete sociologies.

The Origin of the Distinction of Ranks, Or, An Inquiry Into the Circumstances which Give Rise to Influence and Authority, in the Different Members of Society from 1778 was previously published in 1771 under the title: Observations concerning the distinction of ranks in society . There is a short section in which not only the way of thinking, but the entire psychological habitus of the person is traced back to the influences of his natural and social environment. He extended this to the view that all social relationships, including those between the sexes , are shaped by the economic system.

Historical View of the English Government

Millar's 1787 account of the history of England is seen as a milestone in the development of historiography . He made comparisons with the work of other historians and emphasized the social and economic foundations of institutional development in the political sphere. This clearly sets it apart from its predecessors, who were closer to what is now considered fiction .

Quote

“I am happy to acknowledge the obligations I feel myself under to this illustrious philosopher ( Adam Smith ), by having, at an early period of life, had the benefit of hearing his lectures on the History of Civil Society, and of enjoying his unreserved conversation on the same subject. - The great Montesquieu pointed out the road. He was the Lord Bacon in this branch of philosophy. Dr. Smith is the Newton . "

Individual evidence

↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g The University of Glasgow Story; John Millar ; Retrieved July 23, 2014.
↑ ^a ^b ^c Ruth Savage (ed.); Philosophy and Religion in Enlightenment Britain: New Case Studies ; Oxford University Press; 2012; ISBN 978-0-19-922704-4 .
↑ Werner Sombart: The beginnings of sociology. In: M. Palye, (Ed.): Main problems of sociology. Munich-Leipzig 1923, Vol. I, pp. 11-14; quoted after William C. Lehmann: Introduction. In: John Millar: From the origin of the difference in the ranks and classes of society. Translated by Herbert Zirker. Suhrkamp Frankfurt am Main 1st edition 1985. ISBN 3-518-28083-X , p. 7.
↑ Theodor Geiger : Ideology and Truth. A Sociological Critique of Thought. Luchterhand, Neuwied and Berlin 2nd ed. 1968. P. 9f.
↑ John Millar; An Historical View of the English Government. London 1787. p. 528; quoted after Ronald L. Meek : Smith, Marx & after. Ten Essays in the Development of Economic Thought. Chapman & Hall: London 1977. ISBN 0-412-14360-7 . P. 21, footnote 15.

literature

Norbert Waszek : John Millar. In: Outline of the History of Philosophy. The philosophy of the 18th century. Vol. 1: Great Britain and North America, Netherlands. Edited by Helmut Holzhey and Vilem Mudroch. Schwabe, Basel 2004, pp. 596-602, 631-632 (bibliography), ISBN 3-7965-1987-3 .

Web links

Literature by and about John Millar in the WorldCat bibliographic database

a selection of his works on socserv2.socsci.mcmaster.ca

Complete text from The Origin of The Distinction of Ranks. on socserv2.socsci.mcmaster.ca

personal data
SURNAME	Millar, John
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	Scottish philosopher and historian
DATE OF BIRTH	June 22, 1735
DATE OF DEATH	May 30, 1801

[Gla01-1] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g The University of Glasgow Story; John Millar ; Retrieved July 23, 2014.

[Savage-2] Ruth Savage (ed.); Philosophy and Religion in Enlightenment Britain: New Case Studies ; Oxford University Press; 2012; ISBN 978-0-19-922704-4 .

[Sombart-3] Werner Sombart: The beginnings of sociology. In: M. Palye, (Ed.): Main problems of sociology. Munich-Leipzig 1923, Vol. I, pp. 11-14; quoted after William C. Lehmann: Introduction. In: John Millar: From the origin of the difference in the ranks and classes of society. Translated by Herbert Zirker. Suhrkamp Frankfurt am Main 1st edition 1985. ISBN 3-518-28083-X , p. 7.

[Geiger-4] Theodor Geiger : Ideology and Truth. A Sociological Critique of Thought. Luchterhand, Neuwied and Berlin 2nd ed. 1968. P. 9f.

[Millar-5] John Millar; An Historical View of the English Government. London 1787. p. 528; quoted after Ronald L. Meek : Smith, Marx & after. Ten Essays in the Development of Economic Thought. Chapman & Hall: London 1977. ISBN 0-412-14360-7 . P. 21, footnote 15.