In this reexamination of the political legacy of Adam Smith, McLean argues that Smith was a radical egalitarian and that his work supported the ideas behind the French Revolution and his Theory of Moral Sentiments crystallized the radically egalitarian philosophy of the Scottish Enlightenment. Bringing Smith into full view, showing how much of modern economics and political science was influenced by the Scottish thinker, and locating his intellectual heritage firmly within the context of the Enlightenment, McLean addresses the international links between American, French, and Scottish histories of political thought.

Praise

“There is a real demand for this book, from a number of quarters…The author has an exceptionally accessible style.”--Robin Naylor, University of Warwick

About the Author(s)

Iain McLean

Iain McLean is Professor of Politics and Director of the Public Policy Unit, Oxford University.

Table of Contents

Foreword--Rt Hon. Gordon Brown * Preface: A Scotsman Looks at the World * The Life of an Absent-minded Professor * A Weak State and a Weak Church * A Non-religious Grounding of Morals: Smith and the Scottish Enlightenment * Merriment and Diversion: Smith on Public Finance and Public Choice * The Invisible Hand and the Helping Hand * The French and the American Smiths * Adam Smith Today