Adam Smith

1449 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Marx Theory of division of labor and cooperation

“No society can surely be flourishing and happy, of which the far greater part of the members are poor and miserable.” A famous writer from the time of the Enlightenment said this famous quote. He goes by the name of Adam Smith who was perhaps the most famous economist of all time. He was born in 1723 in Kirkaidy, Scotland and died in 1790. He was a professor of philosophy at the University of Glasgow. He wrote some famous pieces of writing that were very influential to today’s society we live in. He wrote The Theory of Moral Sentiments in 1759, which talked about people being selfish, but still could live in a society together in fairness. He also wrote The Wealth of Nations in 1776 which spoke about many different ideas that he felt were valuable to the society he was living in. He discussed why some countries are poor and some are rich. He within the text of his work he answered by mentioning his theory of the division of labor being done more better then other countries. He backed up his theory with a great example of the pin factory. Also in his text he mentions his idea of an “invisible hand” and “laissez-faire”. Adam Smith believed in an idea where the government should let the people freely bring goods to the market, which was his idea of laissez-faire. With Adam Smith’s fairly educated persona, he has a very coherent argument that I agree with where he states through his high diction and sentence structure government should take its hands off and stay out of the economy and with more freedom to the people only provide law and order, defend the country from outside countries, and provide resources, which can benefit the public while not focusing on the people. With the tone he uses when he gives examples, draws a lot of em...

... middle of paper ...

... way because he showed through elements of form and context showed readers why he believe the government should focus on the aspects he chose. Difference with me is I could never do that because whenever I hear government I think of my hometown Port-au-Prince, Haiti where there isn’t a sustain government who cant even make a decision on what to focus on in the first place. The United States of America is lucky to have a standing government that has the ability and resources to cultivate an economic growing atmosphere. But back home in Haiti, there isn’t such thing but pure poverty and suffering of innocent people who do not deserve it. So before I can ever share my opinion on the focus on United States government I ask that they remove the troops in Iraq and transport them to Haiti then maybe I’d be in a more copasetic manner.

Works Cited

The Wealth of Nations

Show More
Related

  • The Humanistic Tradition By Gloria Fiero's Chapter Summary

    727 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the Humanistic Tradition the author, Gloria Fiero introduces Adam smith as a Scottish moral philosopher, pioneer of political economy, and a key figure in the Scottish Enlightenment. Smith also known as the Father of Political economy, is best known for one of his two classic works An Inquiry into the nature and causes of the Wealth of Nations. Fiero looks at Smith’s work because the division of labor is important. One thing Smith thinks is even more important for creating a wealthy nation, is to interact and have open trade with different countries. Fiero states,“It is necessary, though very slow and gradual, consequence of a certain propensity in human nature which has in view no such extensive utility; the propensity to truck, barter,

    Read More

  • Adam Smith's Political Philosophies

    88 Words  | 1 Pages

    Adam Smith was a philosopher whose political philosophies was based off of economics. He believed to some extent that there should be a redistribution of wealth, but at the same time there should be a limit to government interference in economy. He wanted the state to end politics that favor industry over agriculture or vice versa, and that business should be left to the business people. He also believed that the government cannot make people virtuous with laws, and that the state should not promote religion or

    Read More

  • Adam Smith Essay

    847 Words  | 2 Pages

    Adam Smith was a man of many achievements. As a Scottish philosopher and political economist he became famous by his classical and influential books. In 1759 he wrote a book called “The Theory of Mortal Sentiments”and in 1775 he wrote another called “An Inquiry to the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations”. Known as the “father of modern economics” Adam Smith has greatly influenced society. Adam Smith’s history impacted the way that our society is today. Adam’s childhood, environment, education and events throughout his life contributed to the way that we view society. With Adam’s theories and great works he molded a pathway to different stand points on the public and its society. Among his great works are the wealth of nations and inquiry to the nature and causes of the wealth of nations alongside the theory Adam named the invisible hand. Adam also thought about the public from an economic and political stand point. Due to factors that influenced Adam’s early life, he was able to learn from those before him to become the great economist, politician, and philosopher that he was. This way, even though Adam Smith lived during the time of the scientific revolution his words of wisdom in politics and the economy are still used today in the public.

    Read More

  • Smith's Views Of Human Nature By George Smith Vs. Smith

    1100 Words  | 3 Pages

    Smith is against mercantilism, which puts more government emphasis on exports than imports and typically puts high tariffs on imports. The goal of a nation, according to Smith, is to be wealthy, and that means to have plenty of affordable goods and services. To Smith, the best political order would be centered on the market. The goal would be to have a larger market so the citizens would be able to specialize more and increase production. It appears that Smith’s views on the type of political order are along the lines of what we consider capitalism today, and that Smith does not agree with the government involvement in citizen’s life. In this type of political order, the citizens profit from their product, and they also help others by hiring workers and paying rent on the property they are using. The success of the individual is determined by his or her wealth, and wealth is the amount of stuff an individual can buy with his or her money. To be a successful nation, all of the individuals have to be wealthy, and therefore the nation will be

    Read More

  • Adam Smith's Moral Sentiments

    695 Words  | 2 Pages

    Adam Smith has developed and created the most influential works of economic, philosophy and beyond. Adam Smith made an economic model for his theory involving the economic market through his books. Adam Smith produced his own book titled “The Theory of Moral Sentiments” which revolved around morals of humans and mercy toward a person or a community. On the other hand, the book did have a slight vision of the rejection of loving yourself and the slim idea what an individual wants for his or her self. Adam Smith also produced another book titled “An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations” that was based on the concept of the politics of economy. This book also gave the idea that wealth’s amount is determined by the amount of work not by length. Adam Smith’s book eventually g...

    Read More

  • Adam Smith Discourse On The Origin Of Inequality

    1181 Words  | 3 Pages

    Jean-Jacques Rousseau, in his work Discourse on the Origin of Inequality, gives his opinion on the topic of progression and how it has historically developed man from his natural state into a player in today’s civilized societies, including the economic structure and inequality that is present. Though, Adam Smith, based on his findings which he delineates in his works, Wealth of Nations, Theory of Moral Sentiments, and Lectures on Jurisprudence, would take issue with Rousseau’s philosophy on several accounts. In the philosophical spectrum of Hobbes to Rousseau in the discussion of man in his natural state, Smith falls in the middle, as he tends to agree and disagree with both philosophers on various aspects of the debate. Following a close reading of the text, Discourse on the Origin of Inequality, Smith would be very critical of Rousseau and the ideas he expresses.

    Read More

  • Adam Smith Essay

    1020 Words  | 3 Pages

    “It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker, that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest.” This is a quote from the book Wealth of Nations, which Adam Smith wrote, addresses well about why and what reason people work for. The butcher, the brewer, or the baker does not cut, stir, or bake because they want to please the customer or to feed the poor, but to earn money and for their own happiness. Adam Smith, who fully understood the concepts of capitalism and free market system, became one of the most well respected economists throughout the world. Smith became famous because of his philosophy of economics. Because of his thoughts on economics, today he is well known as the “father of economics.”

    Read More

  • John Adams

    1429 Words  | 3 Pages

    As the second president of the United States and the first vice president, John Adams had experienced various kinds of lives of different social positions. Adams, in his early years, tried diverse professions like writer, lawyer, public speaker, and congressman. Later, he became one of the leaders of several political fields, such as the American Revolution and foreign relationships, whose contributions had influenced the United States Constitution. "People and nations are forged in the fires of adversity," said by him, John Adams was more admirable to be a political philosopher than a politician. ("John Adams")

    Read More

  • Adam Smith v. Karl Marx

    2228 Words  | 5 Pages

    Being reared in the typical capitalist community in the United States, it is much easier for me to relate to the thoughts of Adam Smith. This is not to say that I do not agree with some of the precepts of pure Communism, but like the old adage says, "Communism looks good on paper, but in practice, it is completely ineffective." Historically, this form of government does not tend to succeed because of many factors. Some of these include basic economic differences, individualism, and technology and how it advances or serves as a detriment to the state. My stance is clear: I believe that Adam Smith has the more credible stance. Beginning with the economic side of the discussion Smith takes a Western approach in his thought processes. He states in so many words that workers are continually looking for the best job and the best wage. Marx believes that a wage-labor war will break down society and cause a downfall of the economic structure. The Capitalist belief is that each individual is continually exerting himself to find the most advantageous employment for whatever capital he can command (Smith 15). Smith says also in paragraph 15 that it is human nature for a person to better society while bettering himself. In Adam's opinion each person has the right to the pursuit of happiness, and that each person has to take it in their own hands to advance within society. Marx disagrees by saying that when a person betters himself he does not improve but instead endangers society. For example, when the bourgeois cuts employment because of technology, the bourgeois hurts society by "…instead of rising the laborers with the progress of industry, sinks them deeper below the conditions of existence of their own class...

    Read More

  • joseph smith

    771 Words  | 2 Pages

    At the end of the 18th century, the prospects for American Christianity were not hopeful and the memories of the First Great Awakening faded. The chaos of the Revolutionary War era had greatly affected religious life. The start of the new century brought religious activity unique to all of world history. This period, now known as the Second Great Awakening brought with it the emergence of Mormonism. There was an optimistic sense of a new beginning for religion. Society was transforming quickly, with religion emerging as a force that helped shape the wider social problems.

    Read More

  • John Adams

    2747 Words  | 6 Pages

    (1735-1826) Founding father. Second President of the United States, first vice-president of the U.S., member of the Continental Congress, helped draft the Declaration of Independence, helped negotiate the treaty of Paris with England in 1783.

    Read More

  • John Adams

    1461 Words  | 3 Pages

    John Adams, who became the second president of the United States, has been accused by some historians of being the closest thing America ever had to a dictator or monarch (Onuf, 1993). Such strong accusations should be examined in the context of the era in which Mr. Adams lived and served. A closer examination of the historical events occurring during his vice presidency and his term as president, strongly suggests that Adams was not, in fact, a dictator. Indeed, except for his lack of charisma and political charm, Adams had a very successful political career before joining the new national government. He was, moreover, highly sought after as a public servant during the early formation of the new federal power (Ferling, 1992).

    Read More

  • Animal Farm Comparison

    1443 Words  | 3 Pages

    Adam Smith once said, “No society can surely be flourishing and happy, of which the far

    Read More

  • John Adams

    1156 Words  | 3 Pages

    John Adams was born on October 30th, 1735 to John Adams Sr. and Susanna Boylston Adams. He was the oldest of three and lived in Braintree, Massachusetts. His father was a farmer, deacon, and town councilman. The Adams were not very wealthy and John Adams’ father knew he could only send one son and he wanted to send his eldest. However, John Adams told his father “I do not love books and I wish you would lay aside thoughts of sending me to college.” His father in reply asked him- “What would you do child? Be a farmer?” John insisted that he wanted to be a farmer and not a scholar. His father brought him to work the fields the next day. Farming was strenuous work and was most likely rough on John’s hands and back. The night after the long day of farming, His father questioned him “Well John are you satisfied with being a farmer.” John Adams refused to admit that his father was right but John Adams Sr said “I do not like it[farming] so well, so you shall go to school.” John Adams and his father found a compromise- John would go to a tutor that challenged his students instead of the town teacher that was unbearably easy. Adams excelled under the tutors teaching and was accepted to Harvard in 1751.

    Read More

  • Socialism - The Best Economic System

    1465 Words  | 3 Pages

    Today, more than ever, there is great debate over politics and which economic system works the best. How needs and wants should be allocated, and who should do the allocating, is one of the most highly debated topics in our current society. Be it communist dictators defending a command economy, free market conservatives defending a market economy, or European liberals defending socialism, everyone has an opinion. While all systems have flaws and merits, it must be decided which system is the best for all citizens. When looking at both the financial well being of all citizens, it is clear that market economies fall short on ensuring that the basic needs of all citizens are met. If one looks at liberty and individual freedom, it is evident that command economies tend to oppress their citizens. Therefore, socialism, which allows for basic needs to be met and personal freedoms to be upheld, is the best economic system for all of a country’s citizens.

    Read More

More about Adam Smith

Open Document