Idols of nations: Biblical myth at the origins of capitalism

Description

Roland Boer and Christina Petterson here produce a critical survey showing that the rise of capitalist theory was shaped by the way different economic philosophers—Smith, Hobbes, Grotius, Malthus, Locke––read the Bible. Invoking Jeremiah (14:22) and Adam Smith—who took the title of his Wealth of Nations from Isaiah (61:6, 66:12)—they show that early theories of capitalism were shaped by particular assumptions that these theorists brought to their readings of the story of Eden in particular. They examine those assumptions and evaluate what has changed in subsequent centuries. Idols of Nations shows that the Bible was central to the theorization and economic thought of these key thinkers as it explores the distinct problems each sought to overcome. Preface Introduction 1. Hugo Grotius: Rewriting the Narrative of the Fall 2. John Locke and the Trouble with Adam 3. Adam Smith the Story-teller 4. The Lust and Hunger of Thomas Malthus Conclusion Bibliography.