The foundational principles of American democracy can be traced back to three influential Scottish Enlightenment philosophers whose ideas fundamentally shaped the nation’s character. These cornerstone concepts – unalienable rights, self-evident truths, and free market economics – were developed by Francis Hutcheson, Thomas Reid, and Adam Smith respectively.
Hutcheson’s revolutionary thinking about human rights preceded and helped spark the American Revolution. He challenged John Locke’s property-based definition of rights by introducing the crucial distinction between alienable and unalienable rights. While alienable rights, like property ownership, can be transferred to others, unalienable rights such as life and liberty are inherent and cannot be given away or sold. This philosophical framework laid the groundwork for both the Declaration of Independence and Adam Smith’s economic theories.
Smith, who succeeded Hutcheson as a professor at the University of Glasgow, built upon these ideas in his groundbreaking 1776 work “The Wealth of Nations.” His analysis demonstrated how the division of labor drives national prosperity, enabled by humans’ natural tendency to trade and exchange goods. This system of free market economics relied on the concept of alienable property rights that Hutcheson had articulated.
The third pillar came from Thomas Reid, whose 1764 work “An Inquiry Into the Human Mind on the Principles of Common Sense” provided the philosophical basis for the concept of self-evident truths famously expressed in the Declaration of Independence. Reid argued that common sense represents a fundamental human capacity that enables both rational and moral judgment. He maintained that certain basic principles are implicit in human thought and behavior – principles that cannot be proven but are essential for functioning.
The convergence of these three philosophical frameworks in 1776, through both the Declaration of Independence and “The Wealth of Nations,” marked a transformative moment in human history. It represented a decisive break from traditional social structures built around hereditary monarchy and aristocracy. As economist Ludwig von Mises later observed, this new order elevated the common person to a position of ultimate authority – both as a consumer directing economic activity and as a voter guiding national policy.
However, this philosophical foundation has faced consistent challenges since the Progressive movement began working to systematically dismantle the founders’ vision of America. Their ongoing campaign has inflicted significant damage to these core principles over time.
The impact of these Scottish thinkers created a revolutionary new social and political order. Hutcheson’s concept of unalienable rights provided the moral foundation for individual liberty. Smith’s economic theories demonstrated how free markets could harness human nature to generate widespread prosperity. Reid’s philosophy of common sense supplied the epistemological groundwork for asserting self-evident truths.
Together, these three pillars – unalienable rights, self-evident truths, and free market economics – formed the intellectual foundation of American democracy. Their integration represented a radical departure from previous systems of social organization, establishing principles that continue to define American ideals despite ongoing challenges to their implementation. Understanding these foundational concepts remains crucial for those seeking to preserve and restore the original vision of American democracy.