ADAM SMITH AS MORAL PHILOSOPHER

Adam Smith was a philosopher, one who believed that there is an order underlying what we observe in our universe and that to imagine and represent those “concealed connections that unite the various appearances of nature” (HA, 51) is an intellectual joy, an emotional balm, and a social benefit.

In his day philosophy was divided into two domains: Natural and Moral Philosophy.

Natural Philosophy focused on the physical universe. Natural philosophers carefully observed the universe and imagined what invisible connecting principles would be consistent with the “jarring and discordant appearances” we observe. Why, for example, do a few stars appear to wander through the heavens among the multitude of fixed stars?

For centuries successively more complex epicycles of explanation seemed to offer ever more accurate explanations of these wandering stars. Each “success” encouraged even more careful observation. But keen observation brought not more understanding – just more epicycles. Then the earth was moved by Copernicus from the center of the “universe” and, with the benefit of Kepler's elliptical orbits, a much simpler and more coherent explanation of the motion of these “wandering stars,” the planets, was achieved.

But if the earth is indeed spinning on its axis and orbiting around the sun, why don't we feel a brutal wind? If we speed along in a carriage the wind is in our face, and yet as we hurtle around the sun – no wind. This and other questions remained unanswered. Enter Newton.