Age and Ideas of Adam Smith

Published: 24 July 2023

Students from across the world attended the University of Glasgow’s first Adam Smith international summer school, during the tercentenary of its famous graduate’s birth.

              Full Summer School Group with Professor Craig Smith standing at the front of the group. Source: Charlotte Morris External Relations

‘The Age and Ideas of Adam Smith’ was directed by Professor Craig Smith, Lecturer in the Scottish Enlightenment at the University of Glasgow. Students came from as far as Canada, America, Japan, and Australia spent two weeks immersing themselves in Adam Smith’s impressive body of work, ranging from moral philosophy and literary criticism to economics and political science.

As well as reading and discussing Smith’s work with some of the leading world experts on his thinking, they also got to visit locations in Scotland with strong associations with Smith, including his birthplace Kirkcaldy and his final resting place in Edinburgh.

Aarohi Shah, a student from the University of Minnesota, said:

Before this, I didn’t really know much about Adam Smith. I found it interesting that the philosophy that we talk about is related to modern-day psychology and that is not really what I was expecting! I like that there’s intersectionality in Smith, and I’m just amazed at how brilliant and intelligent he is, and the fact that we can still honour his teachings today and that they’re still applicable is probably one of my greatest takeaways"

Riley Cargile, who studies at Campbell University, North Carolina, said:

I found it interesting that we could learn about economics and philosophy intertwined rather than just separated. I had no clue about that part of Adam Smith’s life and I really like the fact we got to go see where he passed away, and different aspects of his life. I thought this was one of the most phenomenal experiences, especially educationally, that I’ve ever had!”

 She added:

I’m sure you get this a lot, but the University looks like Hogwarts – I’m a huge Harry Potter fan!”

Professor Craig Smith said:

We thought this year was a good year to try new ways of making Adam Smith accessible and to have a summer school where students can come along and immerse themselves in Smith’s works and ideas, here in his academic home.”

Come to the University of Glasgow for the next Adam Smith International Summer School

 Summer school 2023

A presenter talking holding and ipad in one hand and has a screen behind him with people holding masks of the same person. Source: Charlotte Morris External Relations

Student standing giving a presentation Source: Charlotte Morris External Relations

Student standing giving a presentation with powerpoint slide with the title Ethical Decision Making. With another presenter at the other side. Source: Charlotte Morris External Relations

 

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First published: 24 July 2023

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