This course is designed to lead students through Adam Smith's classic works An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations and The Theory of Moral Sentiments, and to illustrate how many of the Founding Fathers of the United States were influenced this thinker of the Scottish Enlightenment. We will read selected writings from James Madison, John Adams, Benjamin Rush, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Frankline and others. Additionally, we include some contemporary readings related to how the ideas of Smith and the Founders are holding up in our contemporary political economy. Students are encouraged to think about these more modern issues through the analytical lens of Smith and the Founders. This is a reading-intensive and discussion-heavy course and students must be prepared to make regular contributions to the conversation that occurs in the classroom. Plan on attending all scheduled course meetings.
Modes of evaluation include a premium on high-quality class participation and two take-home essays that must be written without any form or level of assistance from artificial intelligence. Your work must be your own thoughts. Prof. Gill maintains a zero-tolerance policy of AI for writing and substituting AI summaries for actual reading of the material.