SABIIA - Sistema Aberto e Integrado de Informação em Agricultura (Sabiia)

In the Western world the voices calling for a secular society have grown ever louder over the last three centuries. In addition to these normative advocates, various social scientists have propounded the "secularization thesis"; after analysing history from a purportedly positive view, they have argued that "modernization" leads to a secular society. Recently globalization has been seen as another cause of secularization. At the same time, the revival of various religions has cast doubt on these claims. In this paper we return to one of the founders of modernity for guidance. Adam Smith advocated globalization on economic and moral grounds. He did not see secularization as an inevitable consequence of globalization. Further, despite his awareness of...

ADAM SMITH'S OPTIMISTIC TELEOLOGICAL VIEW OF HISTORY

Palavras-chave: Political Economy.

Ano: 2003

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/23716

Adam Smith's four-stage theory provides the framework for his writings on history. The fourth stage is the commercial epoch; the culmination of history in this stage is a key component in the conventional interpretation of Adam Smith as a prophet of commercialism. In two historical case studies Smith shows the capacity of commercial society to regenerate itself. This potent capacity suggests that commercial society is inevitable. At a certain point in time it also overcomes the major obstacles to its permanence. Smith's philosophy of history anticipates the end of history views of Kant and Hegel.

THE ROLE OF TELEOLOGY IN ADAM SMITH'S WEALTH OF NATIONS: A BELATED REPLY TO KLEER

Palavras-chave: Political Economy.

Ano: 2003

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/23708

In a recent article in the History of Economics Review, Richard Kleer discussed the role of teleology in Adam Smith’s economic work. Kleer has been at the forefront in promoting the ‘new teleological and theological view’ of Smith. In this view, Smith is portrayed as a theorist whose system of thought is fundamentally shaped by a belief in divine design and Providence. This revisionist account is in sharp contrast to the mainstream view of Smith as a secular follower of David Hume. As the title of his article indicates, Kleer focuses on the Wealth of Nations. In fact, Kleer’s focus is on economic growth, which is probably the central theme of that book. He shows that the mechanisms underlying economic growth are human instincts (rather than human...

CONTEXT AND ITS RELEVANCE FOR ADAM SMITH'S THEOLOGICAL AND TELEOLOGICAL VIEWS, THE FOUNDATION OF HIS SYSTEM OF THOUGHT

Palavras-chave: International Development.

Ano: 2004

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/23706

The paper will discuss some aspects of the context in which Smith wrote and its relevance for understanding Smith's fundamental assumptions. By fundamental assumptions, I mean Smith's views on teleology, final causes and divine design. These have been described as the "secret" foundations to Smith's writings. Teleology, final causes and divine design were initially seen as central to understanding Smith's writings. Over time, this view fell out of fashion. In the period after World War II, with the rise of positivism, commentators tended to overlook or downplay the significance of these fundamental assumptions. In the last decade, or so, teleology has started to be restored to its former position as an essential element in understanding Smith. The change...

THE THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATION OF ADAM SMITH'S WORK

Palavras-chave: Political Economy.

Ano: 2004

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/23715

The paper will discuss the theological foundation to Smith's writings. Teleology, final causes and divine design were initially seen as central to understanding Smith's writings. Over time, this view fell out of fashion. In the period after World War II, with the rise of positivism, commentators tended to overlook or downplay this interpretation. In the last decade, or so, teleology has started to be restored to its former position as an essential element in understanding Smith. After spelling out Smith's teleology and his view of final causes, divine design and the ends of nature, we try to explain the Panglossian nature of the 'new theistic view' of Smith. While our view differs somewhat, we agree with the essence of the 'new view' claim: a theological...

OVERCOMING POSITIVISM IN ECONOMICS: AMARTYA SEN'S PROJECT OF INFUSING ETHICS INTO ECONOMICS

Palavras-chave: Political Economy.

Ano: 2004

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/23713

Logical Positivism, which arose in philosophy early in the twentieth century, proclaimed the sharp distinction between facts and values. Despite objections at the time, positivism was imported into economics in the 1930s. Over time, objections lessened; economics was transformed and ethical considerations were driven out of its core. In the 1950s, debates about positivism arose within the discipline which had exported it. According to the American philosopher Hilary Putnam, the fact/value distinction is now discredited in philosophy. If that is so, the methodological foundations of contemporary economics are also discredited. In this article I examine Amartya Sen’s moral science of economics. First, I will present his historical account of the connections...

JOHN LOCKE AFTER 300 YEARS

Palavras-chave: Teaching/Communication/Extension/Profession.

Ano: 2005

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/23702

John Locke was a seminal figure in political philosophy and political economy and this year marks the tercentenary of his death. The paper focuses on the classical liberal interpretation of Locke. In this view, Locke defends individualism, natural rights (especially to property) and minimal government. After sketching this interpretation, I will present some extensions and applications of that interpretation. With this background in mind, I then turn to the views of critics who have claimed that Locke's individualism has been exaggerated and that Lockean rights are not absolute (they must be balanced against duties). Then I address the view of those who see Locke as a defender not of minimal government but of a more muscular (albeit limited) government. I...

A CRITICAL REVIEW OF LISA HILL'S VIEW OF ADAM SMITH'S 'HIDDEN THEOLOGY'

Palavras-chave: Political Economy.

Ano: 2004

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/23701

Lisa Hill has recently provided a new assessment of Adam Smith which attempts to reveal the 'hidden' theology which underpins his providential or 'optimistic' system of thought. Her interpretation breaks with the mainstream view of Smith as a follower of the secular, or atheistic, David Hume. While Hill concedes that there are resemblances to modern theories of evolution and spontaneous order in Smith's writings, the latter's own views differ. Darwinian evolution and Hayekian spontaneous order theories are thoroughly secular. Smith's ideas, however, are located in, what Hill calls 'a transitional phase in the history of ideas' in which belief in teleology was still mainstream. Hence, while society may change very slowly over time, in something like an...

THE "NEW, OPTIMISTIC, THEISTIC VIEW" OF ADAM SMITH AND THE PROBLEM OF SMITH'S "PESSIMISTIC" VIEWS OF HISTORY

Palavras-chave: Political Economy.

Ano: 2004

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/23711

In recent times a "new, optimistic, theistic view" of Adam Smith has arisen, challenging the old view of Smith as a follower of the secular David Hume. In the "new view," Smith adopts two types of teleology: teleology immanent in the constitution and historical teleology. It is the latter type of teleology that is primarily addressed here. In this teleological view of history, the divine "plan" progressively realizes the ideal society in practice. This form of "historical optimism" has some foundation in Smith's writings. Several varieties of the "new view" exist; three of these are examined in this paper in the light of the full range of Smith's historical writings. Actually, his "optimistic" version of history coexists with a "pessimistic" version. Some...

ADAM SMITH'S PESSIMISTIC VIEW OF THE FUTURE OF COMMERCIAL SOCIETY: RHETORIC OR REALITY?

Palavras-chave: Political Economy.

Ano: 2004

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/23703

Adam Smith is generally viewed as a great optimist about commerce and commercialism. Consistent with this assessment is the conventional view that Smith believed in progress: he had an optimistic view of history. On the other hand, occasionally over the last thirty years commentators, such as Heilbroner, have suggested that Smith actually had a very pessimistic view of history and the prospects of commercial society. Can we explain Smith's apparent inconsistencies? One solution is that Smith "changed his mind" during his lifetime. Another suggestion, proposed by Muller, is that Heilbroner (and others holding similar views) failed to understand Smith's rhetoric. Muller is correct in suggesting that there is exaggeration in some of Smith's pessimistic...

ADAM SMITH'S VIEW OF HISTORY: CONSISTENT OR PARADOXICAL?

Palavras-chave: International Relations/Trade.

Ano: 2003

URL: http://purl.umn.edu/23705

The conventional interpretation of Adam Smith is that he is a prophet of commercialism. The liberal capitalist reading of Smith is consistent with the view that history culminates in commercial society. The first part of the article develops this optimistic interpretation of Smith's view of history. Smith implies that commercial society is the end of history because 1) it supplies the ends of nature that he identifies; 2) it is inevitable; and 3) it is permanent. The second part of the article shows that Smith has some dark moments in his writings where he seems to reject completely such teleological notions. In this more civic humanist mood he confesses that commercial society does not supply the ends of nature, nor is it inevitable, nor is it permanent....