Political Economy as Moral Philosophy at Econlib
We’re Celebrating the 250th Anniversary of An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations
We are excited to be part of the celebration with Liberty Matters as we commemorate the 250th anniversary of the publication of An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations through a series of six weekly essays.
For our fourth essay, Brianne Wolf delves into Book IV of Wealth of Nations, where Adam Smith takes on the mercantile system, which he vehemently critiques throughout the entire book. In his critique, Smith launches a “very violent attack” on the mercantile system, highlighting its flaws and limitations.
While Adam Smith is commonly known as the father of economics, scholars now recognize that his works, including Theory of Moral Sentiments and Wealth of Nations, are interconnected and part of a larger project aimed at promoting human flourishing. Smith’s moral philosophy underpins his economic theories, illustrating the intrinsic link between ethics and political economy.
