Religion and Spirituality: Adam Smith versus J-J Rousseau

Journal of Philosophical Investigations at University of Tabriz 12 (24):83-93 (2018)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

Adam Smith and J-J Rousseau share some common ground when it comes to religion, namely that they were born into and educated in cultural contexts deeply shaped by Reformed Christianity. However, close consideration of their writings on religion reveal marked difference. This paper explores those differences and finds that Rousseau and Smith are radically at odds on this score. Smith has almost nothing to say about personal spirituality, and locates the significance of religion in its social role. Rousseau, on the other hand, accords religion no social role whatever, and finds its value to be purely of a personal and spiritual nature. This difference is not without some contemporary relevance, since it highlights some of the issues surrounding the distinction between ‘religion’ and ‘spirituality’ in modern secularized societies.

Other Versions

No versions found

Links

PhilArchive



    Upload a copy of this work     Papers currently archived: 103,343

External links

  • This entry has no external links. Add one.
Setup an account with your affiliations in order to access resources via your University's proxy server

Through your library

Similar books and articles

Religion and Spirituality: Adam Smith versus J-J Rousseau.گوردن گراهام - 2018 - Journal of Philosophical Investigations at University of Tabriz 12 (24):83-93.
Adam Smith and rousseaui enlightenment and counter-enlightenment.Dennis C. Rasmussen - 2013 - In Christopher J. Berry, Maria Pia Paganelli & Craig Smith (eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Adam Smith. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 54.
Adam Smith, Stoicism and religion in the 18th century.P. H. Clarke - 2000 - History of the Human Sciences 13 (4):49-72.

Analytics

Added to PP
2018-11-10

Downloads
46 (#504,117)

6 months
46 (#105,305)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author's Profile

Gordon Graham
Durham University

Citations of this work

No citations found.

Add more citations

References found in this work

No references found.

Add more references