Today is the 300th Anniversary of the Birth of Adam Smith

Click here to read a bio of Adam Smith. It is by economist David R. Henderson.

This bio includes links to complete versions of his two famous books:

1759. The Theory of Moral Sentiments. Edited by D. D. Raphael and A. L. Macfie. Oxford: Clarendon Press; New York: Oxford University Press, 1976. Available online at: http://www.econlib.org/library/Smith/smMS.html

1776. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations. Edited by Edwin Cannan. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1976. Available online at: http://www.econlib.org/library/Smith/smWN.html

 

 

Here are links to my posts on Adam Smith:

 

Conspicuous Consumption, Conspicuous Virtue, Thorstein Veblen (and Adam Smith, too!) (2007) (Veblen is best known for his book The Theory of the Leisure Class. In it he introduced the term "conspicuous consumption." Conspicuous consumption was consumption undertaken to make a statement to others about one's class or accomplishments-Adam Smith said something similar in The Wealth of Nations)

Science Proves That Adam Smith Was Right Over 200 Years Ago (sort of) (2009) (this one is about empathy and neuroscience & relates to The Theory of Moral Sentiments)

 

New Biography Of Adam Smith (2010) (It is called Adam Smith: An Enlightened Life by Nicholas Phillipson)

 

Adam Smith vs. Muhammad Yunus (2010) In 2006, economist Muhammad Yunus won the Nobel peace prize (not the economics prize). What did he do? "He invented microcredit, the practice of lending tiny amounts of money to the poor."

 

Adam Smith vs. Ace Ventura (2010) (this one is about empathy and neuroscience & relates to The Theory of Moral Sentiments)

 

Adam Smith vs. Bart Simpson (2011) (this one is about empathy and neuroscience & relates to The Theory of Moral Sentiments)

 

Adam Smith, Marriage Counselor (2011)

Adam Smith Meets Joseph Campbell (2017)  Campbell wrote the book The Hero With a Thousand Faces, which was one of the inspirations for Star Wars. He was interviewed by Bill Moyers in a six hour series in the 1980s on PBS. That series was called The Power of Myth.

Adam Smith And Joseph Campbell On The Dangers Of "The Man Of System" (2017) (the danger of those who want to impose their system on everyone else or move people against their will like they are chessmen on a chess board)

 

The Chronicle of Higher Education Posted My Letter To The Editor About Adam Smith And Jonathan Haidt (2017). Here is that post:

"See The Ugly and Dangerous Side of Political Righteousness? Haidt is a social psychologist who works to reduce the political polarization and animosity in America today.

Evan Goldstein’s article ("Can Jonathan Haidt Calm the Culture Wars?" July 7) reminded me of a passage in The Theory of Moral Sentiments, by Adam Smith, on the "animosity of hostile factions." Smith says there are only a very few whose judgment is "untainted by the general contagion." Haidt seems to be one of those few today. But Smith says "such people are held in contempt" by "the furious zealots of both parties" due to their candor, which is anathema to the "true party-man." These zealots "impute all their own prejudices" and "all their own vindictive and implacable passions" to the "great Judge of the universe." We need people like Haidt to remind us of this ugly and dangerous side of political righteousness."

 

Is it a retailer’s job to keep shoppers from their vices? (or Adam Smith vs. CVS pharmacy) (2023) (or should they sell cigarettes if it increases their profits?)

 

Adam Smith Meets Jonathan Haidt (on political polarization and the animosity of hostile factions) (2021) 

Great advice from Adam Smith (2022) (What does the prudent man do)

 

The Invisible Hand Increases Trust, Cooperation, and Universal Moral Action (2022)

Pride and Profit: The Intersection of Jane Austen and Adam Smith (2023)