The Cambridge Companion to Adam Smith

by Knud Haakonssen (Editor)

Adam Smith is best known as the founder of scientific economics and as an early proponent of the modern market economy. Political economy, however, was only one part of Smith's comprehensive intellectual system. Consisting of a theory of mind and its functions in language, arts, science, and social intercourse, Smith's system was a towering contribution to the Scottish Enlightenment. His ideas on social intercourse also served as the basis for a moral theory that provided both historical and theoretical accounts of law, politics, and economics. This Companion volume provides an examination of all aspects of Smith's thought. Collectively, the essays take into account Smith's multiple contexts - Scottish, British, European, Atlantic; biographical, institutional, political, philosophical - and they draw on all of his works, including student notes from his lectures. Pluralistic in approach, the volume provides a contextualist history of Smith, as well as direct philosophical engagement with his ideas.

Genres: Philosophy, Economics, Politics, History, Business, Reference, Nonfiction

426 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2005

Reviews

[Sergej van Middendorp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read several articles from the book to understand relationships between Smith and Mandeville's thinking.

[Myrick Crampton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adam Smith was much more than the “invisible hand” and this book will help you understand his theory of morals, language, sympathy and the impartial spectator, and his thoughts about virtue.

I’m quite impressed with his approach and the way he thinks about the world, especially given what was known about the world then. It’s hard to think of a historical figure that I’d rather have as a friend and companion.

[Craig Bolton]

The Cambridge Companion to Adam Smith (Cambridge Companions to Philosophy) by Knud Haakonssen (2006)