Adam Smith and the Foundations of Pluralism

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to explore Adam Smith’s work for ideas relevant to the modern-day discourse on pluralism (understood as methodological pluralism). It is argued here that the emphasis on difference of perspective in his theory of human nature is potentially foundational for pluralism. We explore Smith’s philosophy of science, where his theory of human nature explained the motivation for building knowledge, the conduct of enquiry and the appraisal of resulting theories. Finally we explore exemplars of pluralist practice in Smith’s treatment of alternative approaches to economics to his own and in his account of different approaches to history and to astronomy.