The utopian dimension in the philosophy of social betterment in Adam Smith

A dimensão utópica na filosofia do melhoramento social em Adam Smith

Abstract

Adam Smith does not focus on the creation of an ideal world, but on the understanding that societal changes for the better are an unintentional product of commerce. Furthermore, as if to highlight the concreteness of these changes, he sees population growth as the way to measure this betterment of society.

Keywords: Adam Smith; utopia; social betterment; improvement; growth