Knowledge Tree
Relations (1)
cross_type 2.58 — strongly supporting 5 facts
Adam Smith analyzed slavery as an economic system, arguing that it was inherently inefficient and destined to fail [1], [2], and [3]. His perspectives on the institution are frequently contrasted with other thinkers to highlight the philosophical complexities of addressing slavery [4], and he specifically theorized that its persistence was reliant on government intervention [5].
Facts (5)
Sources
Ottobah Cugoano on British Slavery, National Debt, and Speculative ... jmphil.org 5 facts
claimIn The Wealth of Nations, Adam Smith framed the problem of slavery as a risk of economic collapse rather than as a moral crisis of dehumanization.
claimAdam Smith assumed that slavery would either fail as an economic system due to the interruption of capital flow to labor or cause the destruction of the British economy.
claimAdam Smith argued against slavery primarily on economic grounds, asserting that it cannot be profitable because only landowners with a direct interest in the produce maximize output.
claimAdam Smith suggested that slavery would have become obsolete without constant, costly government assistance fueled by national debt.
claimThe differences between Adam Smith's and Ottobah Cugoano's analyses of slavery illustrate broader philosophical challenges in addressing slavery and racial capitalism throughout the modern era.