What’s Wrong with Political Philosophy? Learning from Adam Smith - podcast episode cover

What’s Wrong with Political Philosophy? Learning from Adam Smith

Feb 04, 20261 hr 1 minSeason 18Ep. 261
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Episode description

In the second episode in our short series about how the history of ideas can help with the deepest puzzles of politics, David talks to political theorist Paul Sagar about the eighteenth-century polymath Adam Smith. Normally thought of as the original champion of free-market economics, Smith was far more interested in history, human psychology and the problems inherent in all political systems. What does it mean to live in a commercial society? How should we understand the promise and pitfalls of equality? Where does human liberty come from? And why has the Adam Smith Institute made a mockery of his name?

Next time: Learning from Max Weber

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