Smith's intellectual interests were extensive. He wrote an important philosophical treatise, "The Theory of Moral Sentiments (1759)," and was well versed in science and history. He studied at Glasgow and Oxford universities, lectured at the University of Edinburgh, and in 1751, became a professor at Glasgow University. In 1764, he made a grand tour of the Continent as tutor to the young duke of Buccleuch.

Smith's major thesis in the Wealth of Nations was that, except for limited functions (defense, justice, certain public works), the state refrained from interfering with the economic life of a nation. Smith did not view favorably the motives of

merchants and businessmen. "People of the same trade," he wrote, "seldom meet together, even for merriment and diversion, but the conversation ends in a conspiracy against the public, or in some

contrivance to raise prices." He suggested, however, th

Smith, Adam. Wealth of Nations. United Kingdom: Prometheus Books, 1991

The Myth of Adam Smith will be of interest to historians of economic thought, philosophers of science, and scholars, and students interested in political economy, economic theory, and economic methodology. To this day, Adam Smith remains one of the most lucid thinkers on capitalism, despite that fact that he is permanently underestimated in the faces of many of his fellow economists.

ultimate in human motivation. Today, as lawmakers, journalists, scholars, and citizens continue to struggle with questions about the role of the market, the state, and other institutions, Adam Smith remains a timely and indispensable guide to the modern dilemma.

Rashid, Salim. The Myth of Adam Smith. United Kingdom: Edward Elgar Publishers, 1998

Although Adam Smith is often thought of today as an economist, he was in fact (as his great contemporaries Hume, Burke, Kant, and Hegel recognized) an original and insightful thinker whose work covers an immense territory including moral philosophy, political economy, rhetorical theory, aesthetics, and jurisprudence. He laid the foundation for the capitalist, free market economy, and is one of the founders of modern day economics. Though his theories were formed more than two hundred years ago, they shape much of today's economic and political debate, especially current arguments regarding free trade.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Wealth Nations, Adam Smith, Kant Hegel, Enlightenment Counter, adam smith, Scotland June, Glasgow University, Moral Sentiments, wealth nations, University Press, , Economic Systems, myth adam smith, united kingdom, myth adam, adam smith united, smith united, smith's analysis, decent society, virtues enlightenment, free trade, analysis economic systems, adam smith remains, smith united kingdom, smith remains,
Approximate Word count = 961
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)