In 1776 Adam Smith (1723-90) wrote The Wealth of Nations , a book
so foundational it has led to him being called the 'father of
economics'. Today he is associated with the promotion of
self-interest, a defence of greed and a criticism of any
governmental 'interference' in market transactions which, if left
to the 'invisible hand', will produce prosperity and liberty. Yet
if Smith is actually read these associations are more a caricature
than a faithful portrait. In this Very Short Introduction,
Christopher Berry offers a balanced and nuanced view of this
seminal thinker, embedding his fierce defence of free trade,
competition, and assault on special interests in contemporary
European history, politics, and philosophy. As Berry explores,
Smith was far more than an economist. His book The Theory of Moral
Sentiment, offered a complex account of ethics in the context of
human social behaviour. His scope as a professor at the University
of Glasgow, a major centre of the Scottish Enlightenment, was
extensive. Beyond courses in philosophy and jurisprudence he also
gave classes covering history, literature, and language. In
addition to his two major works he also wrote a pioneering study of
the history of astronomy as an illustration of the motivations that
drive humans to seek answers to questions. He produced, again
derived from his Glasgow classroom, an analysis of the development
of grammar and language. As Christopher Berry shows, Adam Smith was
no narrow thinker, but rather one who produced not only one of the
greatest books in the history of social science, but also a
wide-ranging body of work that remains significant today. ABOUT THE
SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University
Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area.
These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new
subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis,
perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and
challenging topics highly readable.
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