Adam Smith’s Travels
Presentation Type
Presentation
Release Option
Event
Description
During the late 1760s Adam Smith set upon an adventure traveling as a tutor throughout Europe,specifically in France where he spent quite a bit of time with the Physiocrats. Alain Alcouffe argues in his book that Adam was greatly influenced by experiences that he gained while abroad. This paper examines the Correspondence of Adam Smith to argue that Alcouffe proved without a doubt that his works were affected by the Physiocrats and other factors in his tutoring travels. Alongside the letters, Smith’s other works, both early and late pieces, can be used to show a before and after to demonstrate the differences. Beginning with an analysis of his time in Toulouse, this paper will look at different interactions between Adam Smith and several great thinkers. It will then explore how The Wealth of Nations was influenced by his travels. Lastly it will delve into his time and experiences in the time that he and his group spent in Paris. Overall, the paper will demonstrate the validity of Alain Alcouffe’s belief that Adam Smith was tremendously affected by his time in France.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Faculty Mentor
Dr. Robert Batchelor
Department of Primary Presenter's Major
Department of History
Primary Presenter's Major(s)
History
Location
Concurrent Sessions (Room 231)
Symposium Year
2022
Adam Smith’s Travels
Concurrent Sessions (Room 231)
