Adam Smith

Adam Smith (1723-1790) was a Scottish philosopher and the father of modern economics. Educated at Glasgow and Oxford, he became a central figure of the Scottish Enlightenment. His first major work, *The Theory of Moral Sentiments* (1759), explored the role of sympathy in moral judgment. However, he is best known for *An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations* (1776). In it, Smith analyzed how the division of labor multiplies productivity and how the 'invisible hand' of the market coordinates individual interests to promote the public good. While often cited as the champion of laissez-faire, Smith was deeply concerned with justice and the welfare of the poor, advocating for public education and warning against monopolies. His synthesis of ethics and economics created a framework that continues to define global trade and political economy.

Adam Smith is best known as a philosopher. Scottish moral philosopher and economist who analyzed sympathy, division of labor, and market coordination.

Adam Smith lived 1723-1790 CE, born in 1723 and died in 1790, during the early modern period.

There is no verified IQ score for Adam Smith — modern IQ testing only began in 1905, and the numbers attached to historical figures online are retrospective estimates, not real test results. Psychologists have occasionally published such estimates from biographical evidence, but historians treat them as speculation. The better measure of Adam Smith's mind is the record itself, and you can explore it firsthand by asking the AI Adam Smith how they thought through their hardest decisions.

Yes. Historiqly lets you chat with an AI Adam Smith that responds in character and is grounded in their real life, work, and era. A good first question is: "What did you mean by the invisible hand and how has that phrase been misunderstood"