Adam Smith

Description

The Scottish philosopher Adam Smith (1723-1790) was as a pioneer of political economy. In fact, his economic thought became the foundation of classical economics and his key work, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, is considered to be the first modern work in economics. For Smith, a free competition environment was the best way to foster economic development that would work in accordance with natural laws. The framework he set up to explain the free market remains true to this day.

James R. Otteson is Professor of Philosophy and Economics at Yeshiva University in New York. He is author of Adam Smith's Marketplace of Life (Cambridge, 2002) and Actual Ethics (Cambridge, 2006), as well as numerous articles in the history of philosophy, ethics, and political philosophy.

Voltaire said of Adam Smith 'This Smith is an excellent man! We have nothing to compare with him.' To paraphrase Voltaire, James R. Otteson's Adam Smith is excellent and we have nothing to compare. This book is outstanding. * Lacy H. Hunt, PhD, Chief Economist, Hoisington Investment Management, Austin, Texas, USA *