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.

Yes, free. Anyone can ask Adam Smith, and a first question needs no account. Every answer is a Simulation in character, grounded in Adam Smith’s 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?"