How did an affable 18th-century “moral philosopher” become the patron saint of cutthroat capitalism? Does “the invisible hand” mean what everyone thinks it does? We travel to Smith’s hometown in Scotland to uncover the man behind the myth. (Part 1 of a series.)
The story we are beginning today is a story about one man.
But it's also a story about the whole world.
This one man happens to be an 18th century economist.
I hope that doesn't kill your interest, because this is a good story.
This economist was born in Scotland in 1723.
Next year will mark the 300th anniversary of his birth.
But his ideas are still incredibly powerful today.
Why?
There's many reasons.
His thinking was powerful.
Interestingly, not the reason that most people think.
He did think like an economist.
He believes in free markets and a free society.
There's no getting around that.
But he was much more than that.
He forces you to look at yourself and realize what makes you tick.
Pushes your buttons, rings your bells, tightens your shoelaces.
Here is a sentence he once wrote which may tighten your shoelaces.
Man naturally desires not only to be loved, but to be lovely.
He was himself a lovely man.