How Adam Smith Accidentally Invented the Modern World | A Bedtime History Documentary

Video Description

Discover the radical truth about Adam Smith in this feature-length documentary as we reveal how a shy philosopher who despised greed became the misunderstood patron saint of capitalism. For those seeking a deep exploration of the Scottish Enlightenment, the true history of economics, or simply an engrossing bedtime history story, this soothing narrative is crafted for you. It’s designed for deep relaxation – the perfect history for sleep, guiding you toward a restful night. History After Dark is entirely viewer funded. Supporting for just a few dollars a month keeps this channel alive and gets you access to a completely ad-free experience. https://www.patreon.com/cw/HistoryAfterDark For those who prefer listening on the go, we are now on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/show/6t1XIwNQgb5DUJWhn1r76w?si=f875446b35224c19 Welcome to History After Dark! This is our quiet corner of the internet, where we create relaxing history narratives and soothing bedtime stories. If you enjoy these soothing explorations of fascinating lives and thought, please: 👍 Like this video – it truly helps others discover our content! 🔔 Subscribe to @historyafterdarkfilms for more Bedtime Biographies. We'd also love to hear from you in the COMMENTS below. Let us know which historical or intellectual figure you think we should explore in a future Bedtime Biography. For a deeper understanding and for further reading, this narrative is inspired by Glory M. Liu's "Adam Smith’s America: How a Scottish Philosopher Became an Icon of American Capitalism", Nicholas Phillipson's "Adam Smith: An Enlightened Life", and Dennis C. Rasmussen's "The Infidel and the Professor: David Hume, Adam Smith, and the Friendship That Shaped Modern Thought". In this documentary episode, we unravel the complex life of Adam Smith. To many, he is a caricature invoked by Wall Street bankers, but our story reveals the human being beneath the myth: a stammering professor who lived with his mother and worried deeply about the poor. We follow his journey from the smoke of Kirkcaldy’s naileries to the "intellectual desert" of Oxford, and back to the vibrant energy of the Scottish Enlightenment. We explore his scandalous friendship with the atheist David Hume, the boredom in France that birthed a masterpiece, and the true meaning of the "invisible hand". Finally, we confront how his legacy was hijacked by politicians and economists who stripped away his humanity to create a symbol that suited their own agendas. CHAPTERS / TIMESTAMPS 00:00:00 Introduction 00:02:32 The Boy from the Lang Toun 00:09:41 Oxford, The Intellectual Desert 00:16:48 The Best Friend 00:23:33 The Absent-Minded Professor 00:31:30 The Theory of Moral Sentiments 00:38:27 The Grand Tour & The Boredom of France 00:45:04 The Long Gestation 00:53:26 The Core Argument 00:59:45 The Death of the Infidel 01:07:15 The Bureaucrat 01:13:58 The Founders' Guidebook 01:20:25 The Weaponization 01:26:19 The Chicago Smith 01:34:14 The Two Smiths Thank you for joining us! We hope you find this Bedtime Biography of Adam Smith both insightful and wonderfully calming. #AdamSmith #Economics #ScottishEnlightenment #WealthOfNations #Philosophy #BedtimeBiography #HistoryAfterDark #RelaxingHistory #HistoryForSleep #AudioBiography