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Adam Smith as Solon: Accommodating on the edges of liberty, not abandoning it

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  • Clark, Michael J.

Abstract

This paper puts forth evidence that Adam Smith held liberty as a central principle, but also that he adopted an approach of strategic yielding and caution. Smith associated this accommodating approach with the Athenian official Solon, who put forth laws that attempted to be “the best that the people can bear.” I argue that the view of Smith as Solon, accommodating where necessary, is underrepresented in the modern literature and is in contrast to views suggesting that the liberty principle was not so central to Smith's teachings.

Suggested Citation

  • Clark, Michael J., 2021. "Adam Smith as Solon: Accommodating on the edges of liberty, not abandoning it," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 739-747.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:184:y:2021:i:c:p:739-747
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2020.08.029
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Winch, Donald, 1983. "Science and the Legislator: Adam Smith and After," Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 93(371), pages 501-520, September.
    2. Winch,Donald, 1996. "Riches and Poverty," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521559201, October.
    3. Jacob Viner, 1927. "Adam Smith and Laissez Faire," Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 35(2), pages 198-198.
    4. Daniel Klein, 2007. "Review of Ronald Hamowy, The political sociology of freedom: Adam Ferguson and F.A. Hayek," The Review of Austrian Economics, Springer;Society for the Development of Austrian Economics, vol. 20(1), pages 91-94, March.
    5. Iain McLean, 2006. "Adam Smith, Radical and Egalitarian," Palgrave Macmillan Books, Palgrave Macmillan, number 978-1-349-73822-9, December.
    6. Keith Tribe, 1999. "Adam Smith: Critical Theorist?," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 37(2), pages 609-632, June.
    7. West, Edwin G, 1997. "Adam Smith's Support for Money and Banking Regulation: A Case of Inconsistency," Journal of Money, Credit and Banking, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 29(1), pages 127-134, February.
    8. Kennedy, Gavin, 2011. "The Hidden Adam Smith In His Alleged Theology," Journal of the History of Economic Thought, Cambridge University Press, vol. 33(3), pages 385-402, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Erik W. Matson, 2022. "What is liberal about Adam Smith's “liberal plan”?," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 89(2), pages 593-610, October.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Adam smith; Liberty; Rhetoric; Solon; Political economy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • B12 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - History of Economic Thought through 1925 - - - Classical (includes Adam Smith)
    • H11 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - Structure and Scope of Government
    • B41 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Economic Methodology - - - Economic Methodology

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