A dozen experts on the enlightenment will explore in this colloquium the enduring impact of 18th-century Scotland’s contribution to political economy, moral formation, and the nature of progress. The goal of the day is to identify opportunities for new research and writing on the best ways to utilize enlightenment ideas to inform our thinking about today’s crises from stagnation to ideological division to global connectedness and tolerance.
9:00 am – 9:30 am Arrival and Coffee
• Introduction to Panmure House past and present (Adam Dixon)
• Introduction to Civitas Institute and aims for colloquium (Ryan Streeter)
9:30 am – 11:00 am Session 1 – Defining the Scottish Enlightenment and its Legacy
• Craig Smith, University of Glasgow
• Richard Whatmore, University of St. Andrews
• James Harris, University of St. Andrews
11:00 am – 11:30 am Session 2 – Moral Foundations
• Roos Slegers, Tilburg University
• Erik Matson, Mercatus Center at George Mason University
12:45 am – 2:00 pm Lunch
2:00 – 3:15 pm Session 3 – Political Economy
• Mark Pennington, King’s College London
• Sam Gregg, American Institute for Economic Research
3:45 – 5:15 pm Session 4 – Classical Liberalism Today
• Lotta Stern, Ratio Institute and Stockholm University
• Dan Klein, Mercatus Center at George Mason University
5:15 – 5:45 pm Closing remarks
Colloquium participants in the Reading Room, which was the dining room in which Adam Smith entertained 18th century luminaries: Adam Dixon (Adam Smith Chair, Panmure House); Roos Slegers (Tilburg University); Dan Klein (George Mason University); Håvard Holland (Heriot Watt University, Panmure House); Richard Whatmore (University of St Andrews); Charlotta Stern (Ratio Institute, Stockholm); James Harris (University of St. Andrews); Mark Pennington (King’s College); Craig Smith (University of Glasgow); Ryan Streeter (Civitas Institute, UT Austin); Erik Matson (George Mason University).
