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Description
Adam Smith, following Montesquieu and Hume, sought to construct a science of politics that made us of a wide range of historical and comparative evidence. The purpose of such a science was to impro...ve the quality of law and government by discovering the advantages and disadvantages of different systems of government. Smith, like Hume, believed that liberty for the individual in the context of the rule of law in this own time a recent achievement of European societies. The English constitution, since the Settlement of 1688, provided a machinery within which a degree of balance was preserved between the leading interests and orders of society. Smith thought, philosopher's should advise on how to improve such machinery so as to secure liberty and justice without relying on the limited virtue of politically powerful individuals.
Adam Smith, following Montesquieu and Hume, sought to construct a science of politics that made us of a wide range of historical and comparative evidence. The purpose of such a science was to impro...ve the quality of law and government by discovering the advantages and disadvantages of different systems of government. Smith, like Hume, believed that liberty for the individual in the context of the rule of law in this own time a recent achievement of European societies. The English constitution, since the Settlement of 1688, provided a machinery within which a degree of balance was preserved between the leading interests and orders of society. Smith thought, philosopher's should advise on how to improve such machinery so as to secure liberty and justice without relying on the limited virtue of politically powerful individuals.
| Module code and title: | A204, The Enlightenment |
|---|---|
| Item code: | A204; 26 |
| Recording date: | 1979-08-24 |
| First transmission date: | 19-08-1980 |
| Published: | 1980 |
| Rights Statement: | Rights owned or controlled by The Open University |
| Restrictions on use: | This material can be used in accordance with The Open University conditions of use. A link to the conditions can be found at the bottom of all OUDA web pages. |
| Duration: | 00:17:03 |
| + Show more... | |
| Producer: | Tony Coe |
| Contributor: | Donald Winch |
| Publisher: | BBC Open University |
| Keyword(s): | Science of politics; Systems of government; Wealth of Nations |
| Master spool number: | TLN34950H938 |
| Production number: | TLN34950H938 |
| Available to public: | no |
