Adam Smith
modernScottish Enlightenment1723 – 1790
Adam Smith (1723-1790) was a Scottish moral philosopher and pioneer of political economy, best known for founding modern economics with The Wealth of Nations. A central figure of the Scottish Enlightenment, he also developed an influential theory of moral sentiments grounded in sympathy and the impartial spectator.
Notable Achievements
1
Authored The Wealth of Nations (1776), founding modern economics
2
Developed the theory of the invisible hand and division of labor
3
Wrote The Theory of Moral Sentiments (1759) on sympathy and moral judgment
4
Formulated the concept of the impartial spectator in ethics
5
Key figure of the Scottish Enlightenment alongside David Hume