Roger Scruton’s Conservatism and Adam Smith

Roger Scruton

English philosopher Roger Scruton was knighted in 2016 for his contributions to philosophy, teaching, and public education. A conservative thinker, he drew on Adam Smith’s Theory of Moral Sentiments1 (herein TMS) and The Wealth of Nations2 (herein WN) in his reflections on human nature, sentiments and reason, justice, and markets. Like Smith, Scruton engaged with a wide range of subjects, including aesthetics and music, social and moral philosophy, and political and economic institutions.