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Adam Smith in Germany, 1776–1832

In: Adam Smith: International Perspectives

Author

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  • Norbert Waszek

Abstract

Adam Smith, we know, visited the continent as tutor to the Duke of Buccleuch, but, in contrast to his Jacobite compatriot Sir James Steuart, he did not spend time in Germany. All the available evidence points to the conclusion that Smith did not read German either. Thus, for example, we owe the knowledge to the catalogue of James Bonar, much enlarged by the efforts of Professor Hiroshi Mizuta,2 that Smith’s library contained only four German books: presentation copies, it appears, of some German translations of his own works. Fortunately, however, this does not mean that Smith never expressed his views on Germany and on German scholarship in particular. In his ‘Letter to the Authors of the Edinburgh Review’ (1755–56) Smith writes: In medicine, chemistry, astronomy, and mathematics, sciences which require only plain judgement joined to labour and assiduity, without demanding a great deal of what is called either taste or genius; the Germans have been, and still continue to be successful. (GE, III. 243)

Suggested Citation

  • Norbert Waszek, 1993. "Adam Smith in Germany, 1776–1832," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Hiroshi Mizuta & Chuhei Sugiyama (ed.), Adam Smith: International Perspectives, chapter 8, pages 163-180, Palgrave Macmillan.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palchp:978-1-349-22520-0_8
    DOI: 10.1007/978-1-349-22520-0_8
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