18,465 research outputs found
ADAM SMITH'S OPTIMISTIC TELEOLOGICAL VIEW OF HISTORY
No full textAdam Smith's four-stage theory provides the framework for his writings on history. The fourth stage is the commercial epoch; the culmination of history in this stage is a key component in the conventional interpretation of Adam Smith as a prophet of commercialism. In two historical case studies Smith shows the capacity of commercial society to regenerate itself. This potent capacity suggests that commercial society is inevitable. At a certain point in time it also overcomes the major obstacles to its permanence. Smith's philosophy of history anticipates the end of history views of Kant and Hegel.Political Economy,
Professor Allison Orr Larsen on DACA: Its History, Legal Controversies, and What Lies Ahead
No full textIn an interview with Professor Adam Gershowitz, William & Mary Law Professor Allison Orr Larsen talks about DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), which you may know as the law governing DREAMers: what it is, why it is controversial from a legal perspective, recent changes imposed by the Trump administration, challenges to the law, and what may come next
An NTSB for Capital Punishment
No full textIn An NTSB for Capital Punishment, Adam M. Gershowitz proposes the creation of a centralized, expert federal agency modeled after the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to review all death penalty cases. Such an agency could address the persistent problems of wrongful convictions, inconsistent application of capital punishment, and inadequate legal representation. The current decentralized and error-prone state systems fail to provide sufficient safeguards in capital cases. The proposed agency would conduct thorough, independent post-conviction reviews before executions proceed. Ultimately, this reform is presented as a pragmatic step toward improving fairness and accuracy in the administration of the death penalty
Office Hours: Dean\u27s List
No full textWelcome to Office Hours for September 11, 2018. In our fall return episode (welcome back to us!), Michaela and Professor Bellin sit down with Vice Dean and Director of Clinical Programs, Patty Roberts, and Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development, Adam Gershowitz, for a wide-ranging chat about all (or at least many) things law school. Deans Roberts and Gershowitz give us their origin stories, outline their respective roles at William & Mary Law School, and offer up some advice to new and returning students. And, as always, there\u27s a game to top it off
How Might Adam Smith Pay Professors Today?
No full textAdam Smith’s proposal for paying professors was intended to induce increased faculty knowledge. If students have imperfect information about what they learn, and universities can only imperfectly measure the input of faculty time in student learning, publications may be used to measure faculty knowledge. If professors’ ability to publish is positively related to their ability to produce student learning, which universities can imperfectly measure, publications may be necessary to attract more able professors. Since research signals faculty knowledge, schools that do not value publications per se could require higher publication standards and pay higher wages than schools that value only publications.
ADAM SMITH'S VIEW OF HISTORY: CONSISTENT OR PARADOXICAL?
No full textThe conventional interpretation of Adam Smith is that he is a prophet of commercialism. The liberal capitalist reading of Smith is consistent with the view that history culminates in commercial society. The first part of the article develops this optimistic interpretation of Smith's view of history. Smith implies that commercial society is the end of history because 1) it supplies the ends of nature that he identifies; 2) it is inevitable; and 3) it is permanent. The second part of the article shows that Smith has some dark moments in his writings where he seems to reject completely such teleological notions. In this more civic humanist mood he confesses that commercial society does not supply the ends of nature, nor is it inevitable, nor is it permanent. Both views exist in Smith and the commentator is forced to choose between passages in Smith's work in order to support a particular interpretation of the former's view of history.Political Economy,
Adam Smith and Roman Servitudes
No full textThis essay is a preprint of an article that appeared at: Tijdschrift voor Rechstsgeschiedenis, 72 (2004), 327–57.This essay discusses Adam Smith historical jurisprudence and his use of Roman law materials in his Lectures on Jurisprudence. It argues that Smith found it difficult to maintain his theory of legal development in the face of a highly developed body of Roman law literature
THE THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATION OF ADAM SMITH'S WORK
No full textThe paper will discuss the theological foundation to Smith's writings. Teleology, final causes and divine design were initially seen as central to understanding Smith's writings. Over time, this view fell out of fashion. In the period after World War II, with the rise of positivism, commentators tended to overlook or downplay this interpretation. In the last decade, or so, teleology has started to be restored to its former position as an essential element in understanding Smith. After spelling out Smith's teleology and his view of final causes, divine design and the ends of nature, we try to explain the Panglossian nature of the 'new theistic view' of Smith. While our view differs somewhat, we agree with the essence of the 'new view' claim: a theological view exists in Smith which underpins his moral and economic theories.Political Economy,
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