The Road Ahead Prestige Lecture, was delivered by Sir Tom Devine on 19th May.
Why did the Scottish Enlightenment happen and could it happen again?
The renowned Scottish Enlightenment of the eighteenth century emerged from a small country which, on the face of it, was both poor and disadvantaged. The first part of the lecture will resolved this apparent paradox.
The second part took a more speculative approach. With some comparative references back to the glory days of the Enlightenment itself, the question was posed: Does modern Scotland have any of the preconditions for a new “hotbed of genius?”
A full house enjoyed an excellent and entertaining lecture from Sir Tom, to whom we extend our congratulations on the award of his richly-deserved Knighthood.