The Worldly Philosophers: The Lives, Times And Ideas Of The Great Economic ThinkersThe bestselling classic that examines the history of economic thought from Adam Smith to Karl Marx—“all the economic lore most general readers conceivably could want to know, served up with a flourish” (The New York Times). The Worldly Philosophers not only enables us to see more deeply into our history but helps us better understand our own times. In this seventh edition, Robert L. Heilbroner provides a new theme that connects thinkers as diverse as Adam Smith and Karl Marx. The theme is the common focus of their highly varied ideas—namely, the search to understand how a capitalist society works. It is a focus never more needed than in this age of confusing economic headlines. In a bold new concluding chapter entitled “The End of the Worldly Philosophy?” Heilbroner reminds us that the word “end” refers to both the purpose and limits of economics. This chapter conveys a concern that today’s increasingly “scientific” economics may overlook fundamental social and political issues that are central to economics. Thus, unlike its predecessors, this new edition provides not just an indispensable illumination of our past but a call to action for our future. |
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LibraryThing Review
User Review - madepercy - LibraryThingWhat I particularly like about this book is how Heilbroner begins with the term “political economy”, then relegates it to “economics” (as happened in history), only to revive the term at the end where ... Read full review
LibraryThing Review
User Review - Philogos - LibraryThingThis book provides a fascinating introduction to the history of economic thought, albeit from an American point of view. Starting with Adam Smith and tracing the evolution of economics through Malthus ... Read full review
Contents
Introduction | 13 |
The Economic Revolution | 18 |
The Wonderful World of Adam Smith | 42 |
Copyright | |
11 other sections not shown
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Common terms and phrases
accumulation Adam Smith ahnost Alfred Marshall Bastiat became called capitalism capitalist century course David Ricardo depression economic economists Engels England fact factory force Hence Henry George Hobson human ibid ideas imperialism income industrial interest investment J. S. Mill John John Maynard Keynes John Stuart Mill Karl Marx Keynes Keynes's kind labor land landlord laws leisure class less lived look machine Malthus Malthus's market system Marx Marx's Marxist matter ment Mill million mind modern moral nature never nomic Owen perhaps person political economy poor population poverty problem production profits question rent revolution Ricardo rich Robert Owen Saint-Simon savings Schumpeter Schumpeter's seemed social Socialists society surplus value Theory things Thorstein Thorstein Veblen thought tion trade turn University Veblen vision vvith wages Wealth of Nations word workers worldly philosophers wrote York
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Worldly Philosophers: The Lives, Times And Ideas Of The Great Economic Thinkers A Touchstone book |
| Author | Robert L. Heilbroner |
| Edition | reprint, revised |
| Publisher | Touchstone, 1999 |
| ISBN | 068486214X, 9780684862149 |
| Length | 368 pages |
| Subjects | › › Business & Economics / Economic History Business & Economics / Economics / Comparative Philosophy / History & Surveys / Modern |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |