Study
Questions
Adam Smith, Karl Marx and
the Industrial Revolution
- For
Smith, what is human nature? What if what Smith says is human nature really
isnt? How does Marx respond to this conception and to trying to conceptualize
human nature in general?
- How does
Smith say the division of labor came about? What are its positive effects
according to him?
- Why does
Smith have such an extensive discussion of feudal society? What does feudal
society provide him an example of? What happens as commerce is introduced
to feudal society, in terms of wealth and power?
- Marx begins
by claiming to proceed from the premises of political economy.
Why does he claim this? Is it a valid claim? What does this mean in actual
practice? Does this hurt his case? Does it make it stronger?
- Is Marx
a Rousseauan thinker? Why or why not?