# Adam Smith — The Acquisitive Society character guide

> Adam Smith in The Acquisitive Society by R. H. Tawney.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0001-rights-and-functions

## Who they are

Foundational economist whose theories are examined in the critique of acquisitive society.

## In the story

### [Introductory](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_acquisitive_society_se/chapters/introductory)

Not mentioned in this chapter.

### [Rights and Functions](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_acquisitive_society_se/chapters/rights-and-functions)

Adam Smith is mentioned as a precursor who showed how individual rights could serve public good through the 'invisible hand' of the market.

### [The Acquisitive Society](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_acquisitive_society_se/chapters/the-acquisitive-society)

Not directly mentioned in the excerpts; excluded.

### [Property and Creative Work](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_acquisitive_society_se/chapters/property-and-creative-work)

Mentioned among the great individualists who repeated a similar conception of property as a fundamental right.

### [The Functional Society](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_acquisitive_society_se/chapters/the-functional-society)

Alluded to in the discussion of economic organization and the division of labor.

### [Industry as a Profession](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_acquisitive_society_se/chapters/industry-as-a-profession)

Mentioned as an example of the old Oxford reality, contrasting with the professional spirit that later developed in teaching.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_acquisitive_society_se/characters/adam_smith
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_acquisitive_society_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_acquisitive_society_se/characters