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Lectures on Jurisprudence

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Lectures on Jurisprudence, also called Lectures on Justice, Police, Revenue and Arms (1763) is a collection of Adam Smith's lectures, comprising notes taken from his early lectures. It contains the formative ideas behind The Wealth of Nations.[1][2]

Background

Published as part of the 1976 Glasgow Edition of the works and correspondence of Adam Smith. It consists of two sets of lecture notes that were apparently taken from Smith's lectures of the 1760s, along with an 'Early Draft' of The Wealth of Nations. The same material had also appeared as An Early Draft of Part of The Wealth of Nations and as Lectures on Justice, Police, Revenue and Armsby:- rohit pandey c.a- from shrawast'''

Summary

Smith’s Lectures on Jurisprudence, originally delivered at the University of Glasgow in 1762–1763, present his ‘theory of the rules by which civil government ought to be directed.’ The chief purpose of government, according to Smith, is to preserve justice; and ‘the object of justice is security from injury.’ The state must protect the individual’s right to his person, property, reputation, and social relations.

These lectures tell readers interesting facts about Smith's philosophy and beliefs about economics. Second, the Lectures tell readers that Adam Smith was motivated to write about the historical origins of political societies. And third, they tell readers that he was influenced by Mercantilism and the work of his teacher Francis Hutcheson to develop his thought on the political economy.[3] Smith's position on the political economy is that it is foundation for morality, law, government, wealth, revenue, and arms. This position originated from the idea of natural law.[4] In the Lectures the political economy sections are: on Police, Revenue, and Arms.

Smith specifically defines the term jurisprudence as "the theory of general principles of law and government". It is also defined as the general guidelines about the essence of a nation's laws. Smith's relationship with the Physiocrats is important in the Lectures. Some said that he produced the same concepts as them on economics.[4] However, in the Lectures, Smith expands on their ideas by saying that there needs to be a freedom of industry. Smith expects that industry and also commerce be laisser-faire and relevant to all aspects of political economics.[4] He recognizes the need for industry for the production of wealth.[5] Industry creates capital which is much needed in an economically viable society.

The Lectures offer a perspective of his view on property that is different from that of John Locke. Smith believes that property does not lie within the individual but rather it ought to be shared within society. "The individual and his labor are in no respect the ultimate source of the right of property in land: the origin of this right is in society." Also, according to the Lectures, Smith is a believer in a state of nature and the doctrine on an original contract. Locke rejects these two ideas.[4]

Part I: Of Justice

  • Division I. Of Public Jurisprudence
  • Division II. Of Domestic Law
  • Division III. Private Law

Part II: Of Police

The pros and cons of money, prices, and financial exchanges fall under this section of the Lectures "since the regulation of prices and the creation of money by the state both came under the head of police."[6]

  • Division I. Cleanliness and Security
  • Division II. Cheapness or Plenty[7]

Part III: Of Revenue

Part IV: Of Arms

Part V: Of the Laws of Nations

Notes

  1. ^ Smith, Adam (1976), Meek, Ronald L.; Raphael, David D.; Stein G. Peter (eds.), Lectures on Jurisprudence (1 ed.), Oxford: Oxford University Press
  2. ^ See also Cannan, Edwin, ed. (1896), Lectures on Justice, Police, Revenue and Arms delivered in the University of Glasgow by Adam Smith and reported by a Student in 1763 (First ed.), Oxford: Clarendon Press, retrieved 2012-12-14
  3. ^ Caldwell, William (1897-03). "Lectures on Justice, Police, Revenue, and Arms, Delivered in the University of Glasgow. Edwin Cannan , Adam Smith". Journal of Political Economy. 5 (2): 250–258. doi:10.1086/250422. ISSN 0022-3808. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ a b c d Hasbach, W. (1897). "Adam Smith's Lectures on Justice, Police, Revenue and Arms". Political Science Quarterly. 12 (4): 684–698. doi:10.2307/2139691.
  5. ^ BASTABLE, C. F. (1898). "ADAM SMITH'S LECTURES ON "JURISPRUDENCE"". Hermathena. 10 (24): 200–211.
  6. ^ Caldwell, William (1897-03). "Lectures on Justice, Police, Revenue, and Arms, Delivered in the University of Glasgow. Edwin Cannan , Adam Smith". Journal of Political Economy. 5 (2): 250–258. doi:10.1086/250422. ISSN 0022-3808. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ This part engendered the beginning of The Wealth of Nations
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