Self Interest Before Adam Smith

Author : Pierre Force
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
Page : 300 pages
File Size : 47,9 Mb
Release : 2003-09-04
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9781139436991

Get Book

Self-Interest before Adam Smith by Pierre Force Pdf

Self-Interest before Adam Smith inquires into the foundations of economic theory. It is generally assumed that the birth of modern economic science, marked by the publication of The Wealth of Nations in 1776, was the triumph of the 'selfish hypothesis' (the idea that self-interest is the motive of human action). Yet, as a neo-Epicurean idea, this hypothesis had been a matter of controversy for over a century and Smith opposed it from a neo-Stoic point of view. But how can the Epicurean principles of orthodox economic theory be reconciled with the Stoic principles of Adam Smith's philosophy? Pierre Force shows how Smith's theory refutes the 'selfish hypothesis' and integrates it at the same time. He also explains how Smith appropriated Rousseau's 'republican' critique of modern commercial society, and makes the case that the autonomy of economic science is an unintended consequence of Smith's 'republican' principles.

Author : Pierre Force
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 279 pages
File Size : 51,7 Mb
Release : 2003
Category : Economics
ISBN : 0511306288

Get Book

Self-interest Before Adam Smith by Pierre Force Pdf

A study of the history of the concept of self-interest before Adam Smith, in order to understand what it meant when Adam Smith used it as an axiom in The Wealth of Nations. The author shows that Smith's theory refutes the 'selfish hypothesis' yet integrates it at the same time.

Author : Susumu Egashira,Masanori Taishido,D. Wade Hands,Uskali Mäki
Publisher : Springer Nature
Page : 321 pages
File Size : 44,8 Mb
Release : 2021-01-29
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 9789811593956

Get Book

A Genealogy of Self-Interest in Economics by Susumu Egashira,Masanori Taishido,D. Wade Hands,Uskali Mäki Pdf

This is the first book to describe the entire developmental history of the human aspects of economics. The issue of “self-interest” is discussed throughout, from pre-Adam Smith to contemporary neuroeconomics, representing a unique contribution to economics. Though the notion of self-interest has been interpreted in several ways by various schools of economics and economists since Smith first placed it at the heart of the field, this is the first book to focus on this important but overlooked topic. Traditionally, economic theory has presupposed that the core of human behavior is self-interest. Nevertheless, some economists, e.g. recent behavioral economists, have cast doubt on this “self-interested” explanation. Further, though many economists have agreed on the central role of self-interest in economic behavior, each economist’s positioning of self-interest in economic theory differs to some degree. This book helps to elucidate the position of self-interest in economic theory. Given its focus, it is a must-read companion, not only on the history of economic thought but also on economic theory. Furthermore, as today’s capitalism is increasingly causing people to wonder just where self-interest lies, it also appeals to general readers.

Author : Kenneth Lux
Publisher : Shambhala Publications
Page : 252 pages
File Size : 51,9 Mb
Release : 1990
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : STANFORD:36105034791033

Get Book

Adam Smith's Mistake by Kenneth Lux Pdf

Adam Smith saw self-interest as the driving motivation of human affairs. Lux traces the failure of societies based on self-interest, from the misery of Charles Dicken's England, through the Great Depression, to the culture of narcissism of the past decade. He shows how Smith, and the economists who followed him, made a fundamental mistake: self-interest by itself leads to social strife, ecological damage, and the abuse of power. By recognizing Smith's mistake, we as a society can move forward to a time when benevalence rather than greed becomes the economic motivation of our society.

Author : Pierre Force
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 55,7 Mb
Release : 2007-04-23
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 0521036194

Get Book

Self-Interest before Adam Smith by Pierre Force Pdf

Pierre Force studies the history of the concept of self-interest to understand its meaning by the time that Adam Smith used it as an axiom in The Wealth of Nations. He demonstrates that Smith, unlike many of his predecessors and contemporaries, never endorsed the idea that self-interest is the motivation behind all human action, although the "selfish hypothesis" did have a place in his doctrine. This book provides insight on classic puzzles of economic theory and is a major work from an outstanding scholar.

Author : Adam Smith
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 448 pages
File Size : 48,6 Mb
Release : 1761
Category : Ethics
ISBN : BSB:BSB10927003

Get Book

The Theory of Moral Sentiments by Adam Smith Pdf

Author : Adam Smith (économiste)
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 636 pages
File Size : 44,8 Mb
Release : 1812
Category : Electronic
ISBN : BCUL:1092833964

Get Book

The Theory of Moral Sentiments by Adam Smith (économiste) Pdf

Author : Jonathan B. Wight
Publisher : Pearson Education
Page : 360 pages
File Size : 49,9 Mb
Release : 2001-10-29
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 9780132782647

Get Book

Saving Adam Smith by Jonathan B. Wight Pdf

Adam Smith ... Father of Modern Economics ... Died in 1790 ... but 200 years later, his spirit is tortured by the caricatures we remember in his name. In Saving Adam Smith, he is tortured enough to return to Earth ... and so begins a journey of discovery that cuts across two centuries, as doctoral student Richard Burns puts his life on the line to rediscover Smith's most profound insight: Selfishness is not enough.

Author : Russ Roberts
Publisher : Portfolio
Page : 274 pages
File Size : 44,5 Mb
Release : 2015-10-13
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 9781591847953

Get Book

How Adam Smith Can Change Your Life by Russ Roberts Pdf

"How the insights of an 18th century economist can help us live better in the 21st century. Adam Smith became famous for The Wealth of Nations, but the Scottish economist also cared deeply about our moral choices and behavior--the subjects of his other brilliant book, The Theory of Moral Sentiments (1759). Now, economist Russ Roberts shows why Smith's neglected work might be the greatest self-help book you've never read. Roberts explores Smith's unique and fascinating approach to fundamental questions such as: - What is the deepest source of human satisfaction? - Why do we sometimes swing between selfishness and altruism? - What's the connection between morality and happiness? Drawing on current events, literature, history, and pop culture, Roberts offers an accessible and thought-provoking view of human behavior through the lenses of behavioral economics and philosophy"--

Author : D. Hardwick,L. Marsh
Publisher : Springer
Page : 283 pages
File Size : 53,9 Mb
Release : 2014-12-18
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 9781137321053

Get Book

Propriety and Prosperity by D. Hardwick,L. Marsh Pdf

This book is a collection of specially commissioned chapters from philosophers, economists, and political scientists, focusing on Adam Smith's two main works Theory of Moral Sentiments and Wealth of Nations with a view to bringing Smith to a mainstream philosophy audience while simultaneously informing Smith's traditional constituency.

Author : Steven G. Medema
Publisher : Princeton University Press
Page : 246 pages
File Size : 42,7 Mb
Release : 2011-03-06
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 9780691150000

Get Book

The Hesitant Hand by Steven G. Medema Pdf

The author explores what has been perhaps the central controversy in modern economics from Adam Smith to today. He traces the theory of market failure from the 1840s through the 1950s and subsequent attacks on this view by the Chicago and Virginia schools.

Author : Ryan Patrick Hanley
Publisher : Princeton University Press
Page : 600 pages
File Size : 45,6 Mb
Release : 2016-01-12
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 9781400873487

Get Book

Adam Smith by Ryan Patrick Hanley Pdf

Adam Smith (1723–90) is perhaps best known as one of the first champions of the free market and is widely regarded as the founding father of capitalism. From his ideas about the promise and pitfalls of globalization to his steadfast belief in the preservation of human dignity, his work is as relevant today as it was in the eighteenth century. Here, Ryan Hanley brings together some of the world's finest scholars from across a variety of disciplines to offer new perspectives on Smith’s life, thought, and enduring legacy. Contributors provide succinct and accessible discussions of Smith’s landmark works and the historical context in which he wrote them, the core concepts of Smith’s social vision, and the lasting impact of Smith’s ideas in both academia and the broader world. They reveal other sides of Smith beyond the familiar portrayal of him as the author of the invisible hand, emphasizing his deep interests in such fields as rhetoric, ethics, and jurisprudence. Smith emerges not just as a champion of free markets but also as a thinker whose unique perspective encompasses broader commitments to virtue, justice, equality, and freedom. An essential introduction to Adam Smith’s life and work, this incisive and thought-provoking book features contributions from leading figures such as Nicholas Phillipson, Amartya Sen, and John C. Bogle. It demonstrates how Smith’s timeless insights speak to contemporary concerns such as growth in the developing world and the future of free trade, and how his influence extends to fields ranging from literature and philosophy to religion and law.

Author : Ryan Hanley
Publisher : Princeton University Press
Page : 168 pages
File Size : 46,5 Mb
Release : 2021-06-15
Category : Biography & Autobiography
ISBN : 9780691216706

Get Book

Our Great Purpose by Ryan Hanley Pdf

Invaluable wisdom on living a good life from the founder of modern economics.

Author : Murray Newton Rothbard
Publisher : Ludwig von Mises Institute
Page : 1120 pages
File Size : 55,5 Mb
Release : 2024-07-01
Category : Austrian school of economics
ISBN : 9781610164771

Get Book

An Austrian Perspective on the History of Economic Thought by Murray Newton Rothbard Pdf

Author : Susumu Egashira,Masanori Taishido,D. Wade Hands,Uskali Mäki
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 43,6 Mb
Release : 2021
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 9811593965

Get Book

A Genealogy of Self-Interest in Economics by Susumu Egashira,Masanori Taishido,D. Wade Hands,Uskali Mäki Pdf

This is the first book to describe the entire developmental history of the human aspects of economics. The issue of "self-interest" is discussed throughout, from pre-Adam Smith to contemporary neuroeconomics, representing a unique contribution to economics. Though the notion of self-interest has been interpreted in several ways by various schools of economics and economists since Smith first placed it at the heart of the field, this is the first book to focus on this important but overlooked topic. Traditionally, economic theory has presupposed that the core of human behavior is self-interest. Nevertheless, some economists, e.g. recent behavioral economists, have cast doubt on this "self-interested" explanation. Further, though many economists have agreed on the central role of self-interest in economic behavior, each economist's positioning of self-interest in economic theory differs to some degree. This book helps to elucidate the position of self-interest in economic theory. Given its focus, it is a must-read companion, not only on the history of economic thought but also on economic theory. Furthermore, as today's capitalism is increasingly causing people to wonder just where self-interest lies, it also appeals to general readers.