2011最新(英文)南洋理工大学NTU国际经济思想及方法(Internationa(2)

The Enlightenment: An Age of Reason

‘Nature and nature’s laws lay hid in night. God said: ‘Let Newton be” and all was light’. A.Pope

2011最新(英文)南洋理工大学NTU国际经济思想及方法(International Economy)教程3共10

Adam Smith (1723-1790)Intellectual influences: Science: Newton Ethics: Shaftesbury Mandeville Hutcheson Value: Pufendorf Nature: Locke Quesnay Rousseau Davenant, Child, Petty: ‘Trade is in its nature free.’

2011最新(英文)南洋理工大学NTU国际经济思想及方法(International Economy)教程3共10

Moral Philosophy Shaftesbury: The moral sense ‘It is according to the private interest and good of every one to work towards the general good.’ Mandeville: Self-interest (consequentialism, not deontology) ‘Private Vices, Public Benefits’ BUT: subject to ‘the dextrous management of a skilled politician.’ Hutcheson: Benevolence Benevolence is a source of pleasure. Hence ‘we undesignedly promote our own greatest private good.’ ‘That action is best which promotes the greatest happiness for the greatest number.’ Yet there is a role for leadership: ‘The populace often needs to be taught, and engaged by laws, into the best methods of managing their own affairs….Civil laws more precisely determine many points in which the Law of Nature leaves much latitude.’

2011最新(英文)南洋理工大学NTU国际经济思想及方法(International Economy)教程3共10

Smith and Mandeville Private Vices, Public Benefits ‘It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest. We address ourselves, not to their humanity, but to their self-love, and never talk to them of our own necessities but of their advantages.’ A dextrous politician? ‘I have never known much good done by those who affected to trade for the public good.’19