This past weekend, the Adam Smith Society brought 15 members from our MBA and professional chapters to visit Edinburgh, Scotland to learn about the moral and economic philosophy of Adam Smith. This event was co-sponsored by Liberty Fund and the Adam Smith Society, and was made possible through the support of a grant from the John Templeton Foundation.
Writing in the late 18th century, Adam Smith is known for two major works: The Theory of Moral Sentiments and The Wealth of Nations (you can learn more about Smith's work via our reader). Over the course of two days at the Balmoral Hotel in the heart of Edinburgh, participants discussed these two works. An attempt to reconcile Smith's ethics with his economics, topics included Smith's views and thoughts on trade, justice and government, as well as the contemporary application of those perspectives. Dr. Craig Smith, an Adam Smith expert and professor at the University of Glasgow, and Alison Mangiero, the director of the Adam Smith Society, led the discussions.
In addition to group discussions, participants were able to experience the city and Scottish history. A Scotch whiskey expert led a tasting of three different expressions of Scotch, meals showed the variety of Scottish cusine, and free-time explorations of the city made for a fully-immersive experience.
We would like to thank the participants and discussion leaders for making this a wonderful weekend, as well as Liberty Fund and the John Templeton Foundation for their generous support. Visit our treks page to learn more about these special retreat-style events!
