Dennis Rasmussen

Matthew Lazin-Ryder, a CBC producer and IDEAS contributor, discusses the misuse of Adam Smith's name in economic debates. Dennis Rasmussen, a political science professor, explores Smith's philosophical origins and moral questions. Ryan Hanley, also a professor, highlights Smith's teachings on living a better life. Glory Liu, a research fellow, examines the evolution of Smith’s interpretations over time. Together, they dissect the complexities of Smith’s legacy as both a champion and critic of capitalism, emphasizing the need to understand his ideas historically.

Called “a degenerate son of science” by Thomas Jefferson and a “bungling lawgiver” by James Madison, Scottish philosopher David Hume was cited so often at the Constitutional Convention that delegates seemed to have committed his essays to memory. In this episode, we are sharing audio from a recent America’s Town Hall program featuring Angela Coventry, author of Hume: A Guide for the Perplexed; Dennis Rasmussen, author of The Infidel and the Professor: David Hume, Adam Smith, and the Friendship That Shaped Modern Thought; and Aaron Alexander Zubia, author of The Political Thought of David Hume, who discuss Hume’s philosophical legacy and its profound impact on the shaping of America. Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, moderates. This program was streamed live on January 29, 2024. Resources: Angela Coventry, ed., A Treatise of Human Nature: Being an Attempt to Introduce the Experimental Method of Reasoning into Moral Subjects Dennis Rasmussen, The Infidel and the Professor: David Hume, Adam Smith, and the Friendship That Shaped Modern Thought Aaron Alexander Zubia, The Political Thought of David Hume: The Origins of Liberalism and the Modern Political Imagination National Constitution Center Town Hall program, Montesquieu and the Constitution Jeffrey Rosen, The Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America (2024) Hume Texts Online, https://davidhume.org/ Federalist No. 10 Alexander Hamilton, The Continentalist Federalist No. 85 Questions or comments about the show? Email us at podcast@constitutioncenter.org. Continue today’s conversation on Facebook and Twitter using @ConstitutionCtr. Sign up to receive Constitution Weekly, our email roundup of constitutional news and debate, at bit.ly/constitutionweekly. You can find transcripts for each episode on the podcast pages in our Media Library.

Scottish philosopher David Hume's profound impact on shaping America is discussed by Angela Coventry, Dennis Rasmussen, and Aaron Alexander Zubia. Topics include Hume's influence on the Founding Fathers, his ideas on happiness and property, his political philosophy, religious skepticism, and the importance of distinguishing epistemology and politics.