Commercial society deforms human nature

  SOCB42   Classic  Sociological  Theory   Professor  Daniel  Silver   Essay  #1             Sir  Isaac  Newton  once  wrote,  “If  I  have  seen  further  it  is  by  standing  on  the   shoulders  of  giants.”    This  idea  holds  for  sociological  theory:  we  make  better   theories  in  the  present  by  “thinking  with”  the  best  of  our  past.  Reading  the   arguments  of  others  and  making  your  own  arguments  is  one  of  the  best  ways  to   think  through  basic  problems  in  sociological  theory.  This  assignment  requires  you   to  read  closely,  understand  Smith  accurately,  and  develop  your  own  arguments  in   relation  to  his.        “Commercial  society  deforms  human  nature.”    In  An  Inquiry  into  the  Nature   and  Causes  of  the  Wealth  of  Nations,  Adam  Smith  seems  to  both  accept    (e.g.   Book  V,  Part  III,  pp.  987-­‐994)  and  to  reject  (e.g.  Book  I,  chs.  1-­‐2;  Book  II  ch.  8,   pp.  110-­‐114;  Book  IV,  ch.  2,  pp.  568-­‐575)  this  claim.    Develop  your  own   original  argument  defending  claims  about  what  the  essence  of  Smith’s   arguments  are,  why  he  makes  these  arguments,  whether  they  are  compatible,   and  what  their  implications  are.           Write  an  essay  that  addresses  the  above  question.  Your  essay  should  be  no  more   than  5  double-­‐spaced  pages.    Type your responses, using Times New Roman, 12-point font.  Your  essay  should  focus  on  making  and  defending  arguments  about  the  text   rather  than  summarizing  its  contents.    You  should  not  refer  to  any  sources  other   than  The  Wealth  of  Nations.         Essays  are  due  on  Monday,  October  5  by  5PM.    They  should  be  submitted  both  to   turnitin.com  and  to  Professor  Silver’s  drop  box  on  the  2nd  floor  of  the  Social  Sciences   Building.  The  turnitin.com  Class  ID  for  this  course  is:  10345363.    The  password   is:  socb42.