The Scottish Enlightenment's Secret Radical Network

The Story of Scotland: Clans, Crowns, and the Fight for Identity — Fexingo History · Oct 27, 2026 · 8m · transcript

We often think of the Scottish Enlightenment as a polite gathering of gentlemen in Edinburgh’s Old Town, but beneath the surface lay a fierce, radical undercurrent that challenged monarchy, religion, and empire. This episode explores how figures like Francis Hutcheson, Adam Smith, David Hume, and Elizabeth Hamilton used their intellectual influence to push for moral independence and social reform during the 18th century. We look at the Select Society and the Poker Club, where debates over human nature and economic systems were heated, not just academic. From the concept of Deep Time to the…