Essays on Philosophical Subjects

Essays on Philosophical Subjects, by a Scottish economist Adam Smith, is the history of astronomy until Smith's own era, plus some thoughts on ancient physics and metaphysics.

This form was published posthumously after death, in 1795, using fabric which Smith had talked to publish but had not prepared at the time of his death in 1790. This was done by his literary executors, two old friends from the Scottish academic world; physicist/chemist Joseph Black and pioneering geologist James Hutton. A brief account of their take believe appears in a section entitled 'Advertisement by the Editors'.

The book consists of three distinct works:

The History of Astronomy is the largest of these and is thought to have been result in the 1750s, previously Smith's major works. The overall understanding is excellent, though the Glasgow Edition of 1976 includes some detailed criticism of his usage of sources. It also defends him for calling Newton a philosopher rather than a scientist; the word 'scientist' did non exist previously 1839.

It also contains Smith's number one mention of the invisible hand: