Source: EconLog
by Jack Russell Weinstein
“Smith did not think that sympathy would lead to masters sympathizing with their slaves, but he seemed to have faith that it could motivate abolitionists to push for change. He did not think politics or religion could end slavery, but had enough faith in economic persuasion that he dedicated time to the problem in his classes. He knew that he was educating the next generation of Scottish leaders and lamented, to them, that he doubted economic motivation would be sufficient for masters to liberate those under their yoke: ‘It is indeed allmost impossible that it should ever be totally or generally abolished,’ even in ‘a republican government.’ What, then, could the abolitionist hope for? The answer may be only the uneven progress of history.” (04/06/26)