Adam Smith and Three Theories of Altruism

Elias Khalil ()

No 2001044, Discussion Papers (REL - Recherches Economiques de Louvain) from Université catholique de Louvain, Institut de Recherches Economiques et Sociales (IRES)

Abstract: Smith advanced a particular view of altruism that should prove to be relevant to the modem literature on the subject. It provided the back-bone of his critique of three different theories. These three theories have been reincarnated in three modem approaches : Robert Axelrod's "egoistic", Gary Becker's "egocentric", and George Herbert Mead and Robert Frank's "altercentric" views. Axelrod's approach repeats the failing, which Smith found in Mandeville's. Becker's theory echoes the shorteoming, which Smith identified in Hobbes'. Mead/Prank's view duplicates the fault, which Smith uncovered in the approach of Francis Hutcheson and other figures of the Scottish Enlightenment.

Keywords: Egoistic theory; egocentric theory; altercentric theory (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: B4 D0 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 16
Date: 2001-12-01
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (18)

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Journal Article: Adam Smith and Three Theories of Altruism (2001)
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