Democracy, Equality, and Justice: John Adams, Adam Smith, and Political EconomyLexington Books, 2007 - 265 pages Challenging common interpretations of the political thought of John Adams and Adam Smith, Democracy, Equality and Justice offers an engaging and novel portrait of the political economy in America at its founding. The founders believed that liberty should not trump community, but should exist within the context of community. Drawing on extensive written records of the thought of John Adams and Adam Smith, the father of modern capitalism, Dr. John E. Hill argues that these two great men advocated a balanced, values-based, and just political economy. Adams, historically misperceived as a rugged individualist who favored aristocracy over democracy, actually emphasized political balance with no one socio-economic class dominating any other. Smith, incorrectly portrayed as a supporter of laissez-faire government, advocated economic balance with no class or individual receiving special treatment from the government. Applying their values of universalism and moderation today would significantly broaden the definition of morality in contemporary politics. Democracy, Equality and Justice is a stimulating and sophisticated text that will encourage debate over the relationship between historical ideas and contemporary economic problems. |
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Page xi
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Page xiii
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Contents
John Adams? | 1 |
Revolutionary Values | 21 |
Virtues for Democratic Citizens | 59 |
Individuality within Communities | 83 |
Government and SelfInterest | 111 |
SelfInterest and the Economy | 137 |
Property and Democracy | 173 |
Other editions - View all
Democracy, Equality, and Justice: John Adams, Adam Smith, and Political Economy John E. Hill No preview available - 2007 |
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Abigail Adams Adam Smith Adam Smith's Wealth Adams and Smith Adams Family Correspondence Adams wrote advocated American Revolution Anti-Federalist argues aristocracy balanced believed Belknap Press Bellah Benjamin Rush Boorstin Cambridge century chapter Chicago Press citizens civic virtue commerce Constitution Continental Congress criticized democracy democratic Diggins economic equality example faction feared Federalist Fleischacker foreign policy founders free market free trade Harvard University Press History human Ian Simpson ideas important independence individual interest Jefferson John Adams Joyce Appleby justice L. H. Butterfield liberal Liberal Democracy liberty Lint Lost Soul Madison Moral Sentiments nomic Note Oxford University Press Pangle Papers of John Passions Political Sermons Press of Harvard Princeton principle religion religious republican revolutionary role Sandoz self-interest social society Soul of American Spur of Fame Theory of Moral Thomas Jefferson thought tion United University of Chicago values virtuous Wealth of Nations Werhane writes York