Isaac Newton, Robert Simson and Adam Smith

Mark Knell ()
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Mark Knell: NIFU Nordic Institute for Studies in Innovation, Research and Education

Homo Oeconomicus: Journal of Behavioral and Institutional Economics, 2024, vol. 41, issue 1, No 4, 66 pages

Abstract: Abstract This paper examines the connections between Isaac Newton, Robert Simson, and Adam Smith, highlighting the influence of the Newtonian scientific method. Smith, influenced by Simson’s teachings, regarded Simson as a leading mathematician of their time. Simson’s innovative application of ancient porisms to explain Newtonian fluxions challenged existing perspectives and had a profound impact on the Scottish Enlightenment, which in turn shaped Smith’s seminal work, The Wealth of Nations. This paper clarifies how Smith integrated the Newtonian method into his philosophical and economic theories, emphasizing the interconnections among these influential figures and their lasting contributions.

Keywords: Adam Smith; Wealth of Nations; Robert Simson; Newtonian Fluxions; Euclidean Geometry; Imaginary Constructs; Scottish Enlightenment; B1: History of Economic Thought through 1925; B3: History of Economic Thought: Individuals—Adam Smith (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1007/s41412-024-00147-4

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