Essays On The Principles Of Morality And Natural Religion Several Essays Added Concerning The Proof Of A Deity

The Essays is commonly considered Kames's most important philosophical work. In the first part, he sets forth the principles and foundations of morality and justice, attacking Hume's moral skepticism and addressing the controversial issue of the freedom of human will. In the second part, Kames focuses on questions of metaphysics and epistemology to offer a natural theology in which the authority of the external senses is an important basis for belief in the Deity. Like Shaftesbury, Hutcheson, and Butler, Kames rejected the idea that morality is founded on self-interest and argued that human beings naturally possess a "moral sense," or conscience. At the same time, Kames believed our naturally benevolent inclinations could become law-like only through the principle of justice, which "guards the persons, the property, and the reputation of individuals, and gives authority to promises and covenants."Kames is the author of 'Essays On The Principles Of Morality And Natural Religion Several Essays Added Concerning The Proof Of A Deity', published 2005 under ISBN 9780865974494 and ISBN 0865974497.