Francis Hutcheson books in order
Scottish philosopher
- Lived
- 1694–1746
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Books
- 6
Francis Hutcheson published 1 novel, 3 non-fiction books and 2 other books, beginning with An Inquiry into the Original of Our Ideas of Beauty and Virtue (1725).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with Francis Hutcheson
Start here
An Inquiry into the Original of Our Ideas of Beauty and Virtue
Francis Hutcheson's most-read book.
Standalone novels in order
A System of Moral Philosophy (1755)
Non-fiction in order
An Inquiry into the Original of Our Ideas of Beauty and Virtue (1725)
An Essay on the Nature and Conduct of the Passions and Affections (1728)
Philosophiae Moralis Institutio Compendiaria (1742)
Other books in order
Considerations on Patronages (1735)
A Vindication of Mr. Hutcheson from the Calumnious Aspersions of a Late Pamphlet (1738)
About Francis Hutcheson
Francis Hutcheson was an Irish philosopher widely regarded as one of the key figures of the early Scottish Enlightenment. He served as Professor of Moral Philosophy at the University of Glasgow and was a major advocate of moral sense theory, which holds that humans possess an innate sense that guides moral judgments. Hutcheson is best known for his ethical writings, in which he defends benevolence as the primary source of moral virtue and anticipates later utilitarian theories with his formulation of "the greatest happiness for the greatest number".
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
Francis Hutcheson FAQ
- How many books has Francis Hutcheson written?
- Francis Hutcheson published 1 novel, 3 non-fiction books and 2 other books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read Francis Hutcheson's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with An Inquiry into the Original of Our Ideas of Beauty and Virtue.
- What is Francis Hutcheson's last book?
- Philosophiae Moralis Institutio Compendiaria (1742).
- What is Francis Hutcheson's most famous book?
- An Inquiry into the Original of Our Ideas of Beauty and Virtue (1725) is Francis Hutcheson's most widely read book.
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers. Last updated September 2026.