The Essays of Adam Smith
- Language:
- English
- Status:
- Complete work
- Authorship:
- Written by the author
- Condition of the text:
- Clean text
- Extent:
- ~250,000 words · 1,209 passages
Cite this work
- APAAdam Smith. (n.d.). The Essays of Adam Smith. SigPhi. https://sigphiai.com/en/works/adam-smith/the-essays-of-adam-smith
- MLAAdam Smith. "The Essays of Adam Smith." SigPhi, https://sigphiai.com/en/works/adam-smith/the-essays-of-adam-smith.
- ChicagoAdam Smith. The Essays of Adam Smith. SigPhi. https://sigphiai.com/en/works/adam-smith/the-essays-of-adam-smith.
What it is about
The essays Smith allowed to be published: on the history of astronomy, the origin of languages, imitation in the arts, and other subjects that are not economics.
Context and history
These texts exist by a narrow margin. Smith had his papers burnt a few days before his death in 1790, saving only what he wanted kept; out of a lifetime of manuscripts this handful survived. The essay on the history of astronomy is the most interesting: it explains why we make systems — to quiet the surprise and discomfort caused by what does not fit — and it is a theory of science written by the author of the Wealth of Nations.
Editorial context, not a citable source: unlike the passages of the work itself, these statements cannot be checked against the corpus.
powers of his memory. His weakness of body prevented him joining in athletic sports, but his generous and friendly temperament made him a favourite with his schoolmates; and he was noted then, as through after life, for absence in company and a habit of speaking to himself when alone. From the grammar school of Kirkaldy, he was sent, in 1737, to the University of Glasgow, whence, in 1740, he went to Baliol College, Oxford, enjoying an exhibition on the Snell foundation. When at Glasgow College, his favourite studies were mathematics and natural philosophy, but that did not long divert his mind from pursuits more congenial to him, more particularly the political history of mankind, which gave scope to the power of his comprehensive genius, and gratified his ruling passion of contributing to the happiness and the improvement of society. To his early taste for Greek generally, may be due the clearness and fulness with which he states his political reasonings. At Oxford he employed himself frequently in the practice of translation, with a view to the improvement of his own style, and used to commend such exercises to all who cultivate the art of composition. He also cultivated with the greatest care the study of languages; and his knowledge of them led him to a peculiar experience in everything that could illustrate the institutions, the manners, and the ideas of different ages and nations. the Rich and the Great, and to despise or neglect Persons of poor and mean Condition . . 56-60 ----- PART II. OF MERIT AND DEMERIT; OR, OF THE OBJECTS OF REWARD AND PUNISHMENT. SEC. I. Of the Sense of Merit and Demerit--Introduction 61 CH. I. That whatever appears to be the proper Object of Gratitude, appears to deserve Reward; and that, in the same Manner, whatever appears to be the proper Object of Resentment, appears to deserve Punishment . . . . . . 61-63 {6} CH. II. Of the proper Objects of Gratitude and Resentment . . . . . . 63-65 CH. III. Tha
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