Shaftesbury's Characteristics of Men, Manners, Opinions, Times was first published in 1711. It ranges widely over ethics, aesthetics, religion, the arts (painting, literature, architecture, gardening), and ancient and modern history, and aims at nothing less than a new ideal of the gentleman. Together with Locke's Essay Concerning Human Understanding and Addison and Steele's Spectator, it is a text of fundamental importance for understanding the thought and culture of Enlightenment Europe. This volume, first published in 2000, presents an edition of the text together with an introduction, explanatory notes and a guide to further reading.
Preface; A letter concerning enthusiasm; Sensus communis, an essay on the freedom of wit and humour; Soliloquy, or advice to an author; An inquiry concerning virtue or merit; The moralists, a philosophical rhapsody; Miscellaneous reflections.
Friedrich Nietzsche, Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, Nietzsche Friedrich, Bernard Williams, Bernard (University of Oxford) Williams, Bernard Arthur Owen Williams
Lord Shaftesbury, III Cooper, Anthony Ashley, Anthony Ashley Cooper Shaftesbury, Anthony Ashley III Cooper, Lawrence E. Klein, Las Vegas) Klein, Lawrence E. (University of Nevada