18,550 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,
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,
Effects of Postactivation Potentiation After an Eccentric Overload Bout on Countermovement Jump and Lower-Limb Muscle Strength
No full textBeato, M, Stiff, A, and Coratella, G. Effects of postactivation potentiation after an eccentric overload bout on countermovement jump and lower-limb muscle strength. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2018-This study aimed to evaluate the postactivation potentiation (PAP) effects of an eccentric overload (EOL) exercise on countermovement jump (CMJ) performance and isokinetic lower-limb muscle strength. Eighteen active men (mean ± SD, age 20.2 ± 1.4 years, body mass 71.6 ± 8 kg, and height 178 ± 7 cm) were involved in a randomized, crossover study. The participants performed 3 sets per 6 repetitions of EOL half squats at maximal power using a flywheel ergometer. Postactivation potentiation using an EOL exercise was compared with a control condition (10-minute cycling at 1 W·kg). Countermovement jump height, peak power, impulse, and force were recorded at 15 seconds, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 minutes after an EOL exercise or control. Furthermore, quadriceps and hamstrings isokinetic strength were performed. Postactivation potentiation vs. control reported a meaningful difference for CMJ height after 3 minutes (effect size [ES] = 0.68, p = 0.002), 5 minutes (ES = 0.58, p = 0.008), 7 minutes (ES = 0.57, p = 0.022), and 9 minutes (ES = 0.61, p = 0.002), peak power after 1 minute (ES = 0.22, p = 0.040), 3 minutes (ES = 0.44, p = 0.009), 5 minutes (ES = 0.40, p = 0.002), 7 minutes (ES = 0.29, p = 0.011), and 9 minutes (ES = 0.30, p = 0.008), as well as quadriceps concentric, hamstrings concentric, and hamstrings eccentric peak torque (ES = 0.13, p = 0.001, ES = 0.24, p = 0.003, and ES = 0.22, p = 003, respectively) after 3-9 minutes of rest. In conclusion, the present outcomes highlight that PAP using an EOL bout improves height, peak power, impulse, and peak force during CMJ, as well as quadriceps and hamstrings isokinetic strength in male athletes. Moreover, the optimal time window for the PAP was found from 3 to 9 minutes
Implicit Two Step Adam Moulton Hybrid Block Method with Two Off-Step Points for Solving Stiff Ordinary Differential Equations
No full textA two step block hybrid Adam Moulton method of uniform order five is presented for the solution of stiff initial value problems. The individual schemes that made up the block method are obtained from the same continuous scheme which is applied to provide the solutions of stiff initial value problems on non overlapping intervals. The constructed block method is consistent, zero – stable and A – stable. Numerical results obtained using the new block method show that it is superior for stiff systems and competes well with existing ones. Keywords: stiff ODEs, Block Method, Adam Moulton method, Stabilit
Legal regulation of prices in Tanzania : an examination of the Regulation of Prices Act 1973 as a tool of social change and development
No full textDrawing mainly from the Tazanian experience this study
attempts to review the principal issues in the legal regulation of
prices, by identifying both the general and specific importance
of law in this respect. The position I shall present is that
legal control is both necessary and desirable for the welfare
and social development of the people. The key issue is whether
the market-place will perform its function satisfactory: Will
it produce socially desirable results? If it will not, why will
it not? And will legal regulation help to do the job a little
better?
In an attempt to answer some of these questions,
first of all, outline the basic issues raised by the study in
the first Chapter. Then I examine the general case for price
controls - the theory about the controls, the motives and reasons
for their imposition and the manner in which they are effected
in different economic systems. This is done in Chapter Two. Relying
most on the available literature on the regulatory process, this
Chapter also looks at the relationship between law and economic
regulation and concludes that the effectiveness of law depends
on the existence of a conducive socio-economic environment. In
Chapter Three I describe the past record of price control laws
in Tanzania. I conclude that despite the failure in the past,
the controls still constitute an important policy instrument
in the transition to socialism. In Chapters Four and Five I describe
the manner in which the current regulations are implemented and
the problems encountered. I conclude that the operational performance
of the controls is constrained by internal and external influences on the economic and political life of the country. In the concluding
Chapter I assess the impact of the controls: Do the controls
work? Do people buy goods at the controlled prices? Why today
the controls are almost popularly accepted as worthwhile? I conclude
that while there may be no measurable economic gains derived
by consumers, the controls have a stabilising effect on the social
and political front. In the final section I argue that the
future success of the legislation depends on creating a correspondence
between the economic structures and the control system. What
makes the controls ineffective is not so much defects in the
law but the contradictions between the orientation of and functioning
of the economic system and the ideological commitment
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,
Interview. Matthew Joseph with Adam Gussow, musician and author
No full textInterview in which Adam Gussow discusses hill country blues musi
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