New Smithian Classic Published

I have just received a newly published copy of the Theory of Moral Sentiments by Adam Smith, 6th edition, 1990.

What you may ask is so remarkable about that?

This edition is published by Penguin Classics ($17 US and £10.99 UK) well within most student budgets. It is introduced by Amartya Sen in a typically erudite and relevant manner (for 'old hands' and beginners) and it edited by Ryan Hanley, as good as it gets in a modern Smithian scholar, who know Moral Sentiments inside-out and back-to-front.

I've heard Ryan twice now at seminars on Moral Sentiments and came away from both both educated and astonished at his insight (his End Note are a treasure chest in their own right.

Whoever thought of giving cameo/bio notes on everybody mentioned in Smith's text is a publishing genius. They bring the text to life.

I recommend readers to purchase a copy - I have absolutely no personal interest to declare! - because it lifts Smithian scholarship, and old and new readers, to a new level.

The Penguin edition 2-volume of Wealth Of Nations, edited and introduced by Andrew Skinner is also exceptionally good quality.

New Book On Smith by Ryan Hanley

James Otteson, professor of philosophy and economics at Yeshiva University in New York, writes (9 July) in his personal Blog, James R. Otteson, PHD HERE:

“This Just In: An Excellent New Book on Adam Smith”

"I just received my advance copy of Ryan Patrick Hanley's excellent new Adam Smith and the Character of Virtue . I know it's excellent because I had an opportunity to read it in manuscript. In fact, the back cover of the dust jacket leads off with a blurb from me, which reads, in part, that Hanley's book is "one of the most important books on Smith in more than a decade."

Believe me, praise like that does not come easily from me. Everyone interested in Smith scholarship should read the book.”

Comment
I have had the pleasure of listening to a couple of lectures by Ryan Hanley on themes from Smith's Moral Sentiments. He is an authority and a very clear one at that. And Jim Otteson is a good judge of Smithian scholarship too.

Some people obfuscate Smith’s remarkably clear Moral Sentiments behind a veil of deep philosophical jargon, but Ryan is not one of them. He speaks at a brisk, but clear, pace, adding in short quotes from Moral Sentiments or pithy references, always with a page number attached from his memory. It is a performance to watch and listen to and audience members to whom I have spoken all remark on his high quality and authority which is a pleasure to listen to and learn from.

My order for his book will be in the post as soon as an address is available. I recommend that yours is too.

NB: I do not agree with all of Ryan’s conclusions about all aspects of his presentation of Smith’s ideas. Heaven forbid – we are good-natured scholars and I recognise polished talent when I come across it – so read and learn!