19,690 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,
The Image of Woman in Egyptian Author Mahmud Tahir Lashin’s Novel, ‘Eve without Adam’
No full textHavvâ’ bilâ Âdem (Âdemsiz Havvâ), Arap dünyasında edebî ve siyâsî bakımdan biraydınlanma ve uyanış dönemi olarak kabul edilen XX. Yüzyıl’da Medresetu’l-Hadîse(Modern Ekol) olarak bilinen edebî grubun öncülerinden olan ve daha çok öyküleriyletanınan Mısırlı yazar Mahmûd Tâhir Lâşin’in 1933 yılında kaleme aldığı; fakat 1960’lardaancak dikkati çekmeyi başarabilen ilk ve tek romanıdır.Dönemin öne çıkan konularından olan toplumsal sorunlara dikkat çeken roman, modernMısır’da ivme kazanan bu yeni türün gelişimine katkı sağlamıştır. Mısır’ın söz konusuyıllarda yüzünü batıya çevirmesiyle başlayan sosyal sınıf problemleri ile geleneksel birortamda yetişen fakat eğitimli ve meslek sahibi bir kadının yaşadığı çelişkiler, romanınana unsurunu teşkil etmektedir.Bu çalışmada o dönem Mısır kadınının sosyal sınıf farkı karşısında yaşadığı buhranlar,Havvâ ve romandaki diğer kadın karakterler bağlamında değerlendirilmeye çalışılacaktır.Böylelikle hem romanın, dönemin toplumsal yapısını ne kadar yansıtabildiğiüzerinde durulacak; hem de kadının sosyal hayattaki rolü ve yaşadığı problemlere dikkatçekilmiş olacaktır.Written in 1933 by the Egyptian author Mahmud Tahir Lashin, one of the prominentfigures of the literary group, namely al-Madrasah al-Hadithah or The New School,recognised in theperiod of enlightenment and awakening in Arabworld in literal andpolitical aspects in the beginning of 20thcentury, and principally renowned for hisnarratives, the work of Hawwa’ bilâ Adam is his first and only novel drawing publicattention in the 1960s. Callingattention to the significant issues of the mentioned period, such as socialproblems, the novel also contributes to the development of this genregaining momentumin modern Egypt. The governing idea of the novel consists of both social class problemsemerged as a result of Egypt’s turning face towards the West, and the dilemma confronted byan educated woman having a profession and growing up in a traditional environment.In this study, the difficulties the Egyptian woman has in the face of social class divisionsduring the mentioned period are analysed in the context of Hawwa and the other femalecharacters of the novel. In this sense, it evaluates that how much the novel reflects thesocial structure of the period, and draws attention to the role of woman in the society andthe problems it confronts
Scarcity, self-interest and maximization from Islamic angle
No full textThis paper clarifies some misinterpretations of three foundational concepts in mainstream economics from Islamic viewpoint. These are scarcity of resources, pursuit of self-interest and maximizing behavior of economic agents. It argues that stocks of resources that God has provided are inexhaustible. But important is the availability of resources out of stocks to mankind. Availability is a function of human effort and the state of knowledge about resources over time and space. In that sense resources are scarce in relation to multiplicity of human wants for Islamic economics as well. Self-interest must be distinguished from selfishness. The motive operates on both ends of human existence: mundane and spiritual. Its pursuit does not preclude altruism from human life. Counter interests keep balance in society and promote civility. Islam recognizes the motive as valid. Maximization relates to quantifiable ex ante variables. Uncertainty of future outcomes of actions makes maximization a heuristic but useful analytical tool. The concept is value neutral. What is maximized, how and to what end alone give rise to moral issues. Modified in the light of Shari’ah requirements the three concepts can provide a firmer definition for Islamic economics centered on the notion of falah.Scarcity; self-interest, maximization, Islamic Economics, israf; Shri'ah, heuristics
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
Scarcity, self-interest and maximization from Islamic angle
No full textThis paper clarifies some misinterpretations of three foundational concepts in mainstream economics from Islamic viewpoint. These are scarcity of resources, pursuit of self-interest and maximizing behavior of economic agents. It argues that stocks of resources that God has provided are inexhaustible. But important is the availability of resources out of stocks to mankind. Availability is a function of human effort and the state of knowledge about resources over time and space. In that sense resources are scarce in relation to multiplicity of human wants for Islamic economics as well. Self-interest must be distinguished from selfishness. The motive operates on both ends of human existence: mundane and spiritual. Its pursuit does not preclude altruism from human life. Counter interests keep balance in society and promote civility. Islam recognizes the motive as valid. Maximization relates to quantifiable ex ante variables. Uncertainty of future outcomes of actions makes maximization a heuristic but useful analytical tool. The concept is value neutral. What is maximized, how and to what end alone give rise to moral issues. Modified in the light of Shari’ah requirements the three concepts can provide a firmer definition for Islamic economics centered on the notion of falah.Scarcity; self-interest; opportunity cost; maximization; Islamic Economics; israf;; heuristics
Adam and the devil
No full textTale-telling. Session organised in the language assistant's house. Some members of his family were present.Porcupine used to be the king of the animals, but when Adam came on earth, with the help of Dog he became the new ruler. But the devil left his children with him and in order not to take care of them he killed them and ate them, which was just what the devil wanted him to do!Recording conditions: Edirol 09 Digital recorder ; Sony MS907 microphon
Adam and the devil
No full textTale-telling. Session organised in the language assistant's house. Some members of his family were present.Porcupine used to be the king of the animals, but when Adam came on earth, with the help of Dog he became the new ruler. But the devil left his children with him and in order not to take care of them he killed them and ate them, which was just what the devil wanted him to do
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