ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines in brief how Smith has often not been read, or poorly read, by most economists. This chapter includes a detailed biographical timeline for all his work, discusses Smith’s writing style and sets out the analytical method to be undertaken throughout the analysis. This method is to build a holistic reading of the Smithian corpus by first establishing biographical and textual analysis to support a conclusion of Smith’s theism, outlining the key elements of his natural theology and moral philosophy before considering his coherence theory of human nature embodied in the metaphor of the ‘invisible hand’. The disparity between Smith’s anthropology and that of contemporary economic philosophy is highlighted. Although Smith’s treatment of evil is jejune a latent economic theodicy in Smith is presented. This work then scopes further inquiry between economic and religious perspectives.
