What’s Wrong with Political Philosophy? Learning from Adam Smith

Past Present Future

D&HR Media Ltd

Politics, News, Philosophy, Society & Culture, History

4.7 • 747 Ratings

🗓️ 4 February 2026

⏱️ 60 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In the second episode in our short series about how the history of ideas can help with the deepest puzzles of politics, David talks to political theorist Paul Sagar about the eighteenth-century polymath Adam Smith. Normally thought of as the original champion of free-market economics, Smith was far more interested in history, human psychology and the problems inherent in all political systems. What does it mean to live in a commercial society? How should we understand the promise and pitfalls of equality? Where does human liberty come from? And why has the Adam Smith Institute made a mockery of his name? Next time: Learning from Max Weber You can find out everything you need to know about this podcast – who we are, what we do, plus merch, events and full lists of our episodes and PPF+ bonus episodes on our website https://www.ppfideas.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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1:10.0	Hello, my name's David Rundsenman and this is past-present future, the History of Ideas podcast.
1:16.1	Today it's the second episode in my series of conversations with the political theorist Paul Sagar
1:21.7	about what's wrong with political philosophy and how the history of ideas might help.
1:28.2	Today, we're talking about a thinker from the 18th century, Adam Smith,
1:32.7	who's not usually associated with deep reflections on politics.
1:37.2	He's thought of as an economist.
1:40.2	He's given his name to an economic think tank, the Adam Smith Institute.
1:44.8	We're going to be discussing why that is an absolute travesty and how Adam Smith can really
1:51.6	get us thinking right about politics.
1:58.4	Paul, we're going to be talking about someone, Smith, whose name I'm sure is quite well known.
	...

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