#6 - Edinburgh's Literati

In the 1750-1850s of Scotland, there was a philosophical boom as well as a boom in all sorts of learning. Scotland produced hundreds of famous historians, philosophers, scientists, mathematicians, writers and more. Intellectuals would go to scientific academies, masonic lodges, literary salons, coffee houses. People had greater access to printed books, journals, pamphlets.

One of the most interesting phenomena of this period was that there were a group of intellects known as the “Literati” in which academics of all backgrounds would get together and meet and discuss all sorts of interesting academic pursuits. They collaborated and learned from each other and opened a dialogue in which you could be yourself and you could feel free to be wrong. Literati held that progress had to be fought for and we need to preserve them by continuing to fight for them.

I have been inspired by the Literati for many years and I wanted to find a way to weave them into my utopia.