Adam Smith
Conlin, Jonathan2016
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Universally acknowledged as the father of capitalism, the 18th-century Scottish thinker Adam Smith is best known for his 'invisible hand' theory. This theory argued in favour of setting individuals free to pursue their self-interests for the good of all, and has helped to make Adam Smith's name synonymous with unfettered free market capitalism and a belief that 'greed is good'. Jonathan Conlin rescues Smith from the straight-jacket of economics, reattaching the 'invisible hand' to Smith's philosophy of ethics. As Conlin shows, Smith rooted our instincts to trade in human psychology. Analysing the contrasts he saw between the industrializing Scottish lowlands and the clan-based pastoralism of the Scottish highlands, as well as the contrasts between the ideas of contemporary thinkers such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau and David Hume-Smith advanced a system of ethics founded on sympathy.
Main title:
Adam Smith / Jonathan Conlin.
Author:
Conlin, Jonathan, author
Imprint:
London : Reaktion Books, 2016.
Collation:
224 pages ; 21 cm
ISBN:
9781780235684 (pbk)
Dewey class:
330.153092330.153330.15309B
LC class:
HB103
Local class:
920.1
Language:
English
BRN:
1046900
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