![]() Although their pronouncements were universal, the questions they chose were informed by parochial concerns relating to Scotland, and the tremendous societal changes the country was undergoing at the time. The philosophers of the Scottish Enlightenment gravitated around several major themes: the origins of morals, the progress of civilization, economic development and the impact of trade. ![]() Although not all these names are equally well known today, all contributed significantly to the development of modern ideas about the economy. The skeptical philosopher and the father of economics formed the kernel of an intellectual clique, centered in Edinburgh, that included, among others, Lord Kames, Adam Ferguson and James Millar. The Scottish Enlightenment is most associated with two names: David Hume and Adam Smith. ![]() But beyond a mere nod to the past, the title of the conference prompts an important question for modern economists: Is there something to learn from the Scottish Enlightenment that can help illuminate the predicaments of today – and if so, what is it? The reference, of course, is to the Scottish Enlightenment of the 18th Century which gave birth to modern economics. “Reawakening” is the theme of the Institute for New Economic Thinking (INET) conference opening in Edinburgh on October 21. ![]()
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