this post was submitted on 31 Mar 2025
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Philosophy

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Adam Smith Economist or Fascist (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 1 week ago by daveB@sh.itjust.works to c/philosophy@lemmy.world
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I was thinking about Adam Smith the other day. He is considered the father of modern economics. Many of his philosophies focus on division of labour and free and open trade. He is also credited with establishing many core ideas included in Capitalism which some view as pure evil and others view as good for everyone.

A few questions:

  1. Does capitalism tend to gravitate towards fascist ideologies?
  2. Is a system that generates wealth intrinsically bad?
  3. Who should oversee the equal distribution of wealth in a society? Who decides what is fair?
  4. Adam Smith, Economist, Capitalist, or Fascist or all of the above?

Hopefully I have phrased things clearly. I realize I’m covering quite a few different topics. I have been recently studying philosophies of fascism to better understand the main ideas they promote.

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[–] misk@sopuli.xyz 2 points 23 hours ago* (last edited 23 hours ago)

Adam Smith was vehemently against being able to support yourself from rent, or living off the capital rather than work as we usually call it today.

  1. Usually yes, but given the above I don’t think Adam Smith brand of capitalism would lead to fascism. I don’t think Adam Smith would be a capitalist today.
  2. No, almost every system is built to generate wealth. What is important is how efficient it is, how that wealth is distributed and at what cost.
  3. Democratically elected government, preferably in a system that promotes worker self-determination, unionisation and local participation so that people know what democracy is about and see their actions having an impact on their lives.
  4. Economist and a capitalist of the rarest kind.
[–] rah@feddit.uk 1 points 1 week ago

Adam Smith, Economist, Capitalist, or Fascist or all of the above?

Uhh...

I have been recently studying philosophies of fascism

...you tell us?