Human beings have a natural ‘sympathy’ towards others, which enables them to understand how to moderate their behavior and preserve harmony.
“How selfish soever man may be supposed, there are evidently some principles in his nature, which interest him in the fortune of others, and render their happiness necessary to him, though he derives nothing from it except the pleasure of seeing it.” Or in other words, humans have a natural instinct to put themselves before others, but there are sometimes when man is interested in the wellbeing of others and help others like they would help themselves.
2) Best Form of Goverment - and Why
Capitalism – Adam Smith wanted humans to decide their own place in the social order. He wanted to give man an option to work their way up to higher social levels.
He is cited as in support of arguments for a free economy: the less government interferes with business the wealthier the nation will be, runs this theory
3) View on Human Rights- be sure to consider Rights of Women
According to Adam Smith, it should be the law that people cannot intervene on another person’s rights.
People should work collaboratively, without conflicts of nationality and religion, which will be better for us.
Women should get education, be equal as men
4) How did they view religion in society?
Adam Smith was careful whenever he talked about religion, because he was living in the 18th centuries, when religion was very strict and important. Those who were not Christian or went against it in any way were punishable by death.
He believed that when people go to church, a person gets better in many ways, and is rewarded by god.
He said that when the people of a town all go to the same church, they’ll have the same thoughts of justice which will act like laws in that town. This will help the town to develop and will also spread and help the country to improve.
5. The ‘perfect society’ – According to the thinker, what would it look like?
The perfect society, from Adam Smith’s view, would be when the government doesn’t interfere with the citizen’s life, and is limited to only defense and public works. His view also includes the fact that a person’s rights cannot be intervened by others, meaning that women should have the right to get education. The most important part of his view on the ‘perfect society’ was that all people should go to the church and have the same ideas of justice.
6. How would your thinker critique today’s world? What would they admire and be dismayed by? Be sure to give examples…
At least over half the countries in our world today are governed with capitalism. Apparently, most of Smith’s ideas and philosophies lean closely towards the nowadays capitalist society. America was built almost entirely upon Adam Smith’s statements and the facts of his Wealth of Nations book. People now have the freedom to profit to their best of abilities, with our large competitive free-markets in our modern world. We now have the chance to use our skills and capitals to use it in our own self-interest. Adam Smith would also admire the fact that women are finally having a chance to get education, and that all people are free to do what they want to do (in most/several countries). However, because of his philosophy that government is not necessary to stabilize and sustain peace in a country; he would be dismayed that the governments nowadays would sometimes still interrupt the people to regain balance in their country. Also, perhaps of the fact that people now have the freedom to choose their religion, he would be displeased, as he had believed that all people should go to church and learn the same ideas and knowledge together. Adam Smith
BORN 1729 - DIED 1790
Thought himself as a moral philosopher than an economist
His ideas were influenced much by Francis Hutcheson
Helearned about moral philosophy by Francis Hutcheson and later educated children following Francis Hutcheson at the school where he had graduated.
"No matter how cruel human beings are, in our nature there exists some elements inside us that are opposing to each other. Because of these elements, humans are interested in other people’s fortunes and happiness, hoping them to be happy, although expecting to get nothing in return, other than the pleasure of watching them." - Adam smith
The nature of human beings is that we understand other people’s actions. Adam Smith says it can be seen in two different ways. The first one is that the person observes if the other’s act is appropriate or not, judging from what had inspired the other person to think that way.
Also the person observes if the act gets bad or good results. They also observe themself with the judgment that they (the observer) had made for other people’s acts. Smith called this observer ‘supposed impartial spectator’, or ‘ideal man within breast’. Smith said that this justice viewer’s existence is the power that maintains our society.
Government type
Went against communism. Adam Smith stated that human beings are naturally selfish and blocking a human from producing what they want to make profit from, is basically not doing the most important part of human nature.
Adam smith spoke for democracy, that self -interest, done by all people, work the society as a whole. Every person should be free to pursue their ambitions, which would result in new markets, benefiting everyone with that. Better products and opportunities equals’ greater wealth.
He thought that the government should be limited to only governing, defense, public works and the administration of justice, being financed by taxes based on income.
A) An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth Of Nations
a.k.a The Wealth of Nations
(Adam Smith's most famous book)
The old economics
- tax on import, subsices for exports
- import was bad and because the nations wealth was given up to pay for it; but export was good and encouraged because the wealth eventually comes back.
Adam Smith's idea:
There should be free exchange, as it would benefit both sides
Obviously, no one will trade if they think they will lose from it, the goverment should just leave it alone, and allow free exchange
Both the buyer and seller will benefit from free exchange, therefore both imports and exports are just as important as each other.
People should have the freedom to profit to their best of abilities, within competitive free-markets in the world. They should have the chance to use their skills and capitals for their own self-interest
2.Social Freedom
Before, it was believed that freedom would lead to chaos, with humans struggling to live and work together.
Adam Smith's idea
His philosophy was that the government is not necessary for stabilizing and sustaining peace in a country, uneeded to interrupt the citizens to regain balance in a country.
Basically, the society should just grow by themselves, with no need for kings or ministers to govern them. Leaving the people alone and to “grow” naturally, is the best way for the society to work. This is known as the invisible hand.
An open competitive market, with free exchange is best for the society’s development.
Freedom and self-interest shouldn’t result in disorder as they had believed in the old times, but instead, in his opinion, order and harmony with the society and economy flowing smoothly along.
B) The Theory of Moral Sentiments
(another book)
Humans are complex, although we’re selfish, something within us still tugs at us, a desire to care for the welfare of others.
We wish to make other people happy, and yet we expect nothing in return, apart from the pleasure of doing it.
“How selfish so ever man may be supposed, there are evidently some principles in his nature, which interest him in the fortune of others, and render their happiness necessary to him, though he derives nothing from it except the pleasure of seeing it.” - Adam Smith quotes
http://public.wsu.edu/~wldciv/world_civ_reader/world_civ_reader_2/adam_smith.html
http://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/bios/Smith.html
teehee.com/puppies
1) The Nature of Man (good or evil, etc...)
2) Best Form of Goverment - and Why
3) View on Human Rights- be sure to consider Rights of Women
4) How did they view religion in society?
5. The ‘perfect society’ – According to the thinker, what would it look like?
The perfect society, from Adam Smith’s view, would be when the government doesn’t interfere with the citizen’s life, and is limited to only defense and public works. His view also includes the fact that a person’s rights cannot be intervened by others, meaning that women should have the right to get education. The most important part of his view on the ‘perfect society’ was that all people should go to the church and have the same ideas of justice.6. How would your thinker critique today’s world? What would they admire and be dismayed by? Be sure to give examples…
Adam Smith
- BORN 1729 - DIED 1790
- Thought himself as a moral philosopher than an economist
- His ideas were influenced much by Francis Hutcheson
- Helearned about moral philosophy by Francis Hutcheson and later educated children following Francis Hutcheson at the school where he had graduated.
- "No matter how cruel human beings are, in our nature there exists some elements inside us that are opposing to each other. Because of these elements, humans are interested in other people’s fortunes and happiness, hoping them to be happy, although expecting to get nothing in return, other than the pleasure of watching them." - Adam smith
- The nature of human beings is that we understand other people’s actions. Adam Smith says it can be seen in two different ways. The first one is that the person observes if the other’s act is appropriate or not, judging from what had inspired the other person to think that way.
- Also the person observes if the act gets bad or good results. They also observe themself with the judgment that they (the observer) had made for other people’s acts. Smith called this observer ‘supposed impartial spectator’, or ‘ideal man within breast’. Smith said that this justice viewer’s existence is the power that maintains our society.
Government type"Adam Smith." Adam Smith Institute - the Free-market Think Tank. Web. 12 Sept. 2011. http://www.adamsmith.org/adam-smith/.
"인물과 역사." 네이버캐스트. Web. 6 Sept. 2011. <http://navercast.naver.com/contents.nhn?contents_id=2504>.
A) An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth Of Nations
a.k.a The Wealth of Nations
(Adam Smith's most famous book)
The old economics
Adam Smith's idea:
2. Social Freedom
- Before, it was believed that freedom would lead to chaos, with humans struggling to live and work together.
Adam Smith's ideaB) The Theory of Moral Sentiments
(another book)
- Humans are complex, although we’re selfish, something within us still tugs at us, a desire to care for the welfare of others.
- We wish to make other people happy, and yet we expect nothing in return, apart from the pleasure of doing it.
- “How selfish so ever man may be supposed, there are evidently some principles in his nature, which interest him in the fortune of others, and render their happiness necessary to him, though he derives nothing from it except the pleasure of seeing it.”
"Adam Smith - Economist." Heart O' Scotland - Scottish Art, Books, Music, History. Web. 13 Sept. 2011. http://www.heartoscotland.com/Categories/adam-smith.htm.- Adam Smith quotes
Adam Smith. (2005). Adam Smith Institute. 24 August 2011. http://www.adamsmith.org/adam-smith/