In 18th century Britain, two people were his fourth right in their lack of religious faith as Hume was. As he neared his end, everybody wanted to know how he would face death,. Would he maybe even recant his skepticism? Smith wanted to tell this story for people. He wrote what was effectively the authorized version of the story of Hume's death.
How did an affable 18th-century “moral philosopher” become the patron saint of cutthroat capitalism? Does “the invisible hand” mean what everyone thinks it does? We travel to Smith’s hometown in Scotland to uncover the man behind the myth. (Part 1 of a series.)