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

Michael J. Clark

Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 2021, vol. 184, issue C, 739-747

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.

Keywords: Adam smith; Liberty; Rhetoric; Solon; Political economy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: B12 B41 H11 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jeborg:v:184:y:2021:i:c:p:739-747

DOI: 10.1016/j.jebo.2020.08.029

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