Just Sentiments

What’s Natural about Adam Smith’s Natural Liberty?
Daniel B. Klein and Erik W. Matson for AdamSmithWorks

The first essay in our NEW series takes a close look at Adam Smith's language and the implications of those choices for understanding him and the world he is describing.
Smith often said simply “liberty” but sometimes “natural liberty.” Why did Smith sometimes say “natural liberty”? Maybe he wanted to highlight its “naturalness.” That prompts the question: What is “natural” about Smith’s “natural liberty”?
March 23, 2022

The first essay in our NEW series takes a close look at Adam Smith's language and the implications of those choices for understanding him and the world he is describing.
Smith often said simply “liberty” but sometimes “natural liberty.” Why did Smith sometimes say “natural liberty”? Maybe he wanted to highlight its “naturalness.” That prompts the question: What is “natural” about Smith’s “natural liberty”?
March 23, 2022
McCloskey’s Narrative and Jurisprudence
Daniel B. Klein for AdamSmithWorks

In this essay, Klein focuses on the crucial concepts of jural theory and jurisprudence and how these relate to McCloskey's work on the Great Enrichment.
Whatever the reasons for its neglect, the jural theory of Grotius and others clarified and still clarifies the liberty that is at the center of what Smith called “the liberal plan.”
Wednesday May 25, 2022

In this essay, Klein focuses on the crucial concepts of jural theory and jurisprudence and how these relate to McCloskey's work on the Great Enrichment.
Whatever the reasons for its neglect, the jural theory of Grotius and others clarified and still clarifies the liberty that is at the center of what Smith called “the liberal plan.”
Wednesday May 25, 2022