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A Philosopher’s Economist

Hume and the Rise of Capitalism

A Philosopher’s Economist

Hume and the Rise of Capitalism

Although David Hume’s contributions to philosophy are firmly established, his economics has been largely overlooked. A Philosopher’s Economist offers the definitive account of Hume’s “worldly philosophy” and argues that economics was a central preoccupation of his life and work. Margaret Schabas and Carl Wennerlind show that Hume made important contributions to the science of economics, notably on money, trade, and public finance. Hume’s astute understanding of human behavior provided an important foundation for his economics and proved essential to his analysis of the ethical and political dimensions of capitalism. Hume also linked his economic theory with policy recommendations and sought to influence people in power. While in favor of the modern commercial world, believing that it had and would continue to raise standards of living, promote peaceful relations, and foster moral refinement, Hume was not an unqualified enthusiast. He recognized many of the underlying injustices of capitalism, its tendencies to promote avarice and inequality, as well as its potential for political instability and absolutism.

Hume’s imprint on modern economics is profound and far reaching, whether through his close friend Adam Smith or later admirers such as John Maynard Keynes and Friedrich Hayek. Schabas and Wennerlind’s book compels us to reconsider the centrality and legacy of Hume’s economic thought—for both his time and ours—and thus serves as an important springboard for reflections on the philosophical underpinnings of economics.

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Economics and Business: Economics--General Theory and Principles

History: European History, General History, History of Ideas

Philosophy: History and Classic Works

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Reviews

"[Schabas and Wennerlind's] exceptional study is a welcomed contribution. . . . A Philosopher’s Economist is a serious piece of scholarship that is well-researched and artfully written."

LSE Review of Books

“Justice cannot be done to this authoritative and nuanced book in a short review. It balances deep contextualisation with insightful retrospective appraisal.”

Journal for Eighteenth-Century Studies

“There is at last a comprehensive study of David Hume’s economic writings and his economic life and times. A Philosopher’s Economist is illuminating, surprising, and a pleasure to read.”

Emma Rothschild, Harvard University

“In this engaging and thought-provoking book, Schabas and Wennerlind demonstrate both that David Hume was one of the most important early theorists of capitalism and that economics ‘serves as a unifying thread’ in the philosopher’s life work. This book is essential reading for those interested in the history of capitalism, the Enlightenment, and the age of revolutions. It is also vital to understanding the underpinnings of modern economic debates.”

Steven Pincus, University of Chicago

“Fascinating and illuminating. Schabas and Wennerlind trace the principles of economics as a unifying thread for all of Hume’s work. The result is an overdue and highly invigorating work that promises to remain relevant for a long time.”

Don Garrett, New York University

"...this is an excellent book and a major contribution to the literature on a topic that was in need of attention. It is one those books that can change our view of the history of economics."

Paul Oslington | History of Economics Review

"The book is essentially a review of everything that Hume wrote on economics, organised by topic –economic methodology, property, moral improvement, money, international trade, and public finance. Schabas and Wennerlind are sure-footed guides to this material, attentive to textual detail and to historical context."

Journal of Economic Methodology

“The best extant account of Hume’s economic theory. . . . Establishes the benchmark and is a distinguished contribution not only to Hume studies but to scholarship more widely.”

The European Journal of the History of Economic Thought

"A Philosopher’s Economist is a well-organized, sharply focused, richly erudite, and beautifully narrated monograph on Hume’s economic thought—the product of many years of close academic collaboration between the two scholars. Though jointly authored, the book’s storytelling is so fluent and rigorous that it reads as if written by one author. . . . In short, Schabas and Wennerlind have presented us with an outstanding study of Hume’s economics for specialists and general readers alike. Without doubt, the book will soon establish itself as a modern classic in this genre and will maintain that status for the foreseeable future."

Eighteenth-Century Scotland

Table of Contents

List of Abbreviations and Modifications
Preface

Introduction
Chapter 1. “A Rising Reputation”: Hume’s Lifelong Pursuit of Economics
Chapter 2. “A Cautious Observation of Human Life”: Hume on the Science of Economics
Chapter 3. “A More Virtuous Age”: Hume on Property and Commerce
Chapter 4. “That Indissoluble Chain of Industry, Knowledge, and Humanity”: Hume on Economic and Moral Improvement
Chapter 5. “Little Yellow or White Pieces”: Hume on Money and Banking
Chapter 6. “A Prayer for France”: Hume on International Trade and Public Finance
Chapter 7. “Our Most Excellent Friend”: Hume’s Imprint on Economics

Acknowledgments
Notes
Bibliography
Index