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Which subjects were included in Adam Smith’s moral philosophy lectures at Glasgow?
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Adam Smith
Adam Smith, paste medallion by James Tassie, 1787; in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh.
When Adam Smith was appointed to the professorship of moral philosophy at the University of Glasgow in 1752, the subject was broad in scope. His lectures encompassed four primary, interrelated fields:
- Natural theology
- Ethics
- Jurisprudence
- Political economy1
These lectures formed the foundation for his broader work as a social philosopher, eventually influencing his major publications, including The Theory of Moral Sentiments and The Wealth of Nations.2