''Essays on Philosophical Subjects'', by the
Scottish
Scottish usually refers to something of, from, or related to Scotland, including:
*Scottish Gaelic, a Celtic Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family native to Scotland
*Scottish English
*Scottish national identity, the Scottish ide ...
economist
Adam Smith
Adam Smith (baptized 1723 – 17 July 1790) was a Scottish economist and philosopher who was a pioneer in the thinking of political economy and key figure during the Scottish Enlightenment. Seen by some as "The Father of Economics"——— ...
, is a history of
astronomy until Smith's own era, plus some thoughts on
ancient physics
Physics is a branch of science whose primary objects of study are matter and energy. Discoveries of physics find applications throughout the natural sciences and in technology. Physics today may be divided loosely into classical physics and m ...
and
metaphysics.
This work was published posthumously (after death), in 1795, using material which Smith had intended to publish but had not prepared at the time of his death in 1790. This was done by his literary executors, two old friends from the Scottish academic world; physicist/chemist
Joseph Black and pioneering
geologist James Hutton
James Hutton (; 3 June O.S.172614 June 1726 New Style. – 26 March 1797) was a Scottish geologist, agriculturalist, chemical manufacturer, naturalist and physician. Often referred to as the father of modern geology, he played a key role i ...
. A brief account of their work appears in a section entitled 'Advertisement by the Editors'.
The book consists of three distinct works:
* The History of Astronomy
* The History of the Ancient Physics
* The History of the Ancient Logics and
Metaphysics
The ''History of Astronomy'' is the largest of these and is thought to have been written in the 1750s, before Smith's major works. The overall understanding is excellent, though the
Glasgow Edition of 1976 includes some detailed criticism of his use of sources. It also defends him for calling
Newton
Newton most commonly refers to:
* Isaac Newton (1642–1726/1727), English scientist
* Newton (unit), SI unit of force named after Isaac Newton
Newton may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment
* ''Newton'' (film), a 2017 Indian film
* Newton ( ...
a philosopher rather than a
scientist; the word 'scientist' did not exist before 1839.
It also contains Smith's first mention of the
invisible hand:
: For it may be observed, that in all
Polytheistic religions, among savages, as well as in the early ages of
antiquity
Antiquity or Antiquities may refer to:
Historical objects or periods Artifacts
*Antiquities, objects or artifacts surviving from ancient cultures
Eras
Any period before the European Middle Ages (5th to 15th centuries) but still within the histo ...
, it is the irregular events of nature only that are ascribed to the agency and power of the gods. Fire burns, and water refreshes; heavy bodies descend, and lighter substances fly upwards, by the necessity of their own nature; nor was the invisible hand of
Jupiter ever apprehended to be employed in those matters.
[See
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Notes
External links
Online edition
{{Adam Smith
Books by Adam Smith
Philosophy books