Political Economy as Natural Theology: Smith, Malthus and Their Followers

ISBN-13: 9780367865023 / Angielski / Miękka / 2019 / 164 str.

Paul Oslington

Opis

Oslington tells the story of natural theology shaping political economy in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, emphasising continuing significance of theological issues for the discipline of economics. Early political economists such as Adam Smith, T.R. Malthus, Richard Whately, and William Whewell, extended the British scientific natur

Recenzje

'Oslington’s work adds clarity to the ongoing battle among intellectual historians for the right to narrate the history of economic thought. In a world where economic principles are often endowed with ‘natural’ authority, people on both ends of the economic spectrum have something to gain by claiming thinkers such as Adam Smith as their intellectual ancestors. As an expert in the ongoing dialogue between economics and Christian theology, Oslington is uniquely placed to explore this foundational period of economic tradition.' Kathryn D. Blanchard, Alma College

 

"The last two decades have seen a notable “turn to religion,” as it has been called in a
variety of academic disciplines, including economics. Part of this movement is
increased attention to the relationship between economics and religion, and particu>larly theology, from a historical perspective. Paul Oslington’s work on theology
and economics, including an earlier edited volume (Adam Smith as Theologian),
stands at the forefront of this revisionist program, which aims both to more properly
ground historical understandings of the origins of political economy as well as to use
that grounding as a way to begin to reconcile—if not reunite—theology and political
economy."

—Jordan J. Ballor, HOPE reviews

Spis treści

1 Introduction

2 Natural Theology: Philosophical and Historical Issues

Introduction

Natural theology and scripture

Varieties of natural theology

The British tradition of scientific natural theology

Natural theology, creation and providence

Natural theology and theodicy

Conclusion

3 Early English Theological Roots of Political Economy

Introduction

Joseph Butler (1692–1752)

Josiah Tucker (1713–99)

William Paley (1743–1805)

Edmund Burke (1729–97)

Conclusion

4 Adam Smith as Natural Theologian

Introduction

Adam Smith’s religious background

Adam Smith's invisible hand

Adam Smith’s theodicy

The future hope, nature and justice in Smith’s system.

Conclusion

5 Natural Theology and the Emergence of Political Economy: Stewart, Malthus, Sumner and Chalmers

Introduction

Further Scottish background: Dugald Stewart

Malthus' Principle of Population and its theodicy

Development of Malthus’ theodicy by JB Sumner

Malthus’ Scottish disciple Thomas Chalmers

Conclusion

6 Progress and Tension: Richard Whately and William Whewell

Introduction

Political Economy at Oxford: Nassau Senior and the responses by Richard Whately and JH Newman

Richard Whately

Political Economy at Cambridge: Richard Jones and William Whewell

Conclusion

7 The Demise of Natural Theology and Separation of Economics from Theology

Introduction

Explaining the separation of economics from theology

Explaining the demise of natural theology

The demise of natural theolog

O autorze

Paul Oslington is Professor of Economics and Dean of Business at Alphacrucis College in Sydney, Australia. He previously held a joint appointment as Professor in the Schools of Business and Theology at Australian Catholic University, and before that Associate Professor of Economics at the University of New South Wales, along with visiting positions at the University of Oxford, University of British Columbia, Regent College Vancouver and Princeton Theological Seminary and University. He is also an honorary Research Professor at the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture in Canberra.