Essays on Philosophical Subjects with Dugald Stewart's Account of Adam Smith

by Adam Smith, Dugald Stewart, William P.D. Wightman (editor)

Essays on Philosophical Subjects, by the Scottish economist Adam Smith, is a history of astronomy down to his own era, plus some thoughts on ancient physics and metaphysics. This work was published posthumously, in 1795, using material which he'd intended to publish eventually but had not prepared at the time of his death in 1790. This was done by his literary executors, two old friends from the Scottish academic world; physicist/chemist Joseph Black & pioneering geologist James Hutton. A brief account of their work appears in a section entitled 'Advertisement by the Editors'. The book consists of three distinct works: The History of Astronomy, The History of the Ancient Physics & The History of the Ancient Logics & Metaphysics.
The History of Astronomy is the largest of these & is thought to have been written in the 1750s, before Smith's major works. The overall understanding is excellent, though the Glasgow Edition of 1976 includes some detailed criticism of his use of sources. But also defends him for calling Newton a philosopher rather than a scientist; the word 'scientist' didn't exist before 1839. It's also interesting for containing the 1st mention of the Invisible Hand: "For it may be observed, that in all Polytheistic religions, among savages, as well as in the early ages of heathen antiquity, it is the irregular events of nature only that are ascribed to the agency & power of the gods. Fire burns, & water refreshes; heavy bodies descend, & lighter substances fly upwards, by the necessity of their own nature; nor was the invisible hand of Jupiter every apprehended to be employed in those matters." (III.2, page 49, Glasgow Edition.)

Genres: Philosophy

368 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1795

About the author

For other authors of this name, see Adam Smith.

Adam Smith FRSA FRS FRSE was a Scottish philosopher and economist who was a pioneer in thinking on political economy and a key figure during the Scottish Enlightenment. He wrote two classic works, The Theory of Moral Sentiments (1759) and An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations (1776). The latter, often abbreviated as The Wealth of Nations , is considered his magnum opus and the first modern work that treats economics as a comprehensive system and as an academic discipline.

Authorities recorded his baptism on 16 June 1723 at Kirkcaldy.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adam_Smith

Reviews

[Truls Ljungström · Rating 1 out of 5]

Smiths funderingar kring div ämnen, så vitt skilda som idehistoria och dansens essens. Kan inte rekommendera.

[Erik Graff · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was read as part of a research assistantship with Dr. Bill Ellos who was having me read 18-19th century Scottish philosophers, usually in facsimile editions without indices, to extract texts relevant to areas of his interest. Previously I had only read one of Smith's works, The Wealth of Nations.

[Craig Bolton]

ESSAYS ON PHILOSOPHICAL SUBJECTS (Glasgow Edition of the Works and Correspondence of Adam Smith) by ADAM SMITH (1982)