Smith and Hume at war: The differing views of Adam Smith and David Hume on commerce and international warfare

Maria Pia Paganelli and Reinhard Schumacher

The European Journal of the History of Economic Thought, 2025, vol. 32, issue 4, 477-499

Abstract: Adam Smith and David Hume strongly support commercial societies. But both do not assume that commerce necessarily promotes peace; it might even lead to more wars. Their respective reasoning, however, is very different. Smith claims that wars arise from the rapacity of merchants and manufacturers chasing monopolies, while Hume attributes them to human nature. Smith assumes that the martial spirit decreases, Hume that it is strengthened. Smith supports a standing army, Hume a militia. Hume approves of financing wars by debt; Smith fears escalating military debt. Consequently, Hume advocates expanding commerce to increase the military power of Britain, Smith proposes integrating the British colonies into the Union or abandoning them.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1080/09672567.2024.2444918

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