Adam Smith
William Wolfe
Political Social Thought
Dr. Rodgers
Biographical Paper
12/3/14
Adam Smith
Adam Smith was a Scottish social philosopher, political economist, educator, scholar, author and journalist. As such, he was one of the most influential figures of the 18th century Scottish Enlightenment. His two most notable works are the Theory of Moral Sentiments, and An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations which is often shortened to simply Wealth of Nations. Smith was known as an Ethicist, and Wealth of Nations was Smith’s first work dedicated to the study of political economy. This work is the reason why Smith is cited as the “father of modern economics” and is credited with the conceptualization of modern day capitalism. The exact birthdate of Smith is unknown, however, church records put his baptism on June 5, 1723, in Kirkcaldy, Scotland. Smith was a bright young man who entered the University of Glasgow when he was 14 year old. There he studied social philosophy and in 1740, he attended Oxford. In 1748, Smith began giving public lectures at the University of Edinburgh where he later met and began his lifelong friendship with the noted Scottish economist and philosopher David Hume. Smith and Hume collaborated often during the Scottish Enlightenment, and this provided the means for Smith securing a job teaching Moral Philosophy at the University of Glasgow. During Smith’s time at Glasgow, he completed his first work entitled Theory of Moral Sentiments. The work was initially published in 1759, although he continued revising it until his death. In this work, the accomplished author examines all the great moral thinkers of his time. This work was strongly influenced by Francis Hutcheson, a Scottish reverend who is noted to have influenced many of the great thinkers during the Scottish Enlightenment, including Smith’s friend David Hume. Hutcheson divided moral philosophy into four parts: Ethics and Virtue; Private rights and Natural liberty;
Political Social Thought
Dr. Rodgers
Biographical Paper
12/3/14
Adam Smith
Adam Smith was a Scottish social philosopher, political economist, educator, scholar, author and journalist. As such, he was one of the most influential figures of the 18th century Scottish Enlightenment. His two most notable works are the Theory of Moral Sentiments, and An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations which is often shortened to simply Wealth of Nations. Smith was known as an Ethicist, and Wealth of Nations was Smith’s first work dedicated to the study of political economy. This work is the reason why Smith is cited as the “father of modern economics” and is credited with the conceptualization of modern day capitalism. The exact birthdate of Smith is unknown, however, church records put his baptism on June 5, 1723, in Kirkcaldy, Scotland. Smith was a bright young man who entered the University of Glasgow when he was 14 year old. There he studied social philosophy and in 1740, he attended Oxford. In 1748, Smith began giving public lectures at the University of Edinburgh where he later met and began his lifelong friendship with the noted Scottish economist and philosopher David Hume. Smith and Hume collaborated often during the Scottish Enlightenment, and this provided the means for Smith securing a job teaching Moral Philosophy at the University of Glasgow. During Smith’s time at Glasgow, he completed his first work entitled Theory of Moral Sentiments. The work was initially published in 1759, although he continued revising it until his death. In this work, the accomplished author examines all the great moral thinkers of his time. This work was strongly influenced by Francis Hutcheson, a Scottish reverend who is noted to have influenced many of the great thinkers during the Scottish Enlightenment, including Smith’s friend David Hume. Hutcheson divided moral philosophy into four parts: Ethics and Virtue; Private rights and Natural liberty;
Cited: "Adam Smith.”: The Concise Encyclopedia of Economics. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Dec. 2014. "Adam Smith Biography." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2014. "Adam Smith (Scottish Philosopher)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 01 Dec. 2014. Smith, Adam. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations. Fifth ed. London: Methuen, 1904. Print. Smith, Adam. "The Theory of Moral Sentiments PDF." Library of Economics. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Dec. 2014.