III. ADAM SMITH AND “THE WEALTH OF NATIONS”
BY PROFESSOR CHARLES J. BULLOCK
FROM 1752 to 1764 the author of “The Wealth of Nations” occupied the chair of moral philosophy at Glasgow College, and his writings were the natural outgrowth of the lectures delivered to his college classes. Following an unbroken tradition received from Greek philosophy, Smith conceived the province of moral philosophy to be as broad as the entire range of human conduct, both individual and social. “Wherein,” says Smith, “consisted the happiness and perfection of a man, considered not only as an individual, but as a member of a family, of a state, and of the great society of mankind, was the object which the ancient moral philosophy proposed to investigate.” Smith’s own lectures followed substantially this plan of treatment.