Idols of Nations: Biblical Myth at the Origins of Capitalism

by Roland Boer, Christina Petterson

Overview

Roland Boer and Christina Petterson here produce a critical survey showing that the rise of capitalist theory was shaped by the way different economic philosophers—Smith, Hobbes, Grotius, Malthus, Locke––read the Bible. Invoking Jeremiah (14:22) and Adam Smith—who took the title of his Wealth of Nations from Isaiah (61:6, 66:12)—they show that early theories of capitalism were shaped by particular assumptions that these theorists brought to their readings of the story of Eden in particular. They examine those assumptions and evaluate what has changed in subsequent centuries. Idols of Nations shows that the Bible was central to the theorization and economic thought of these key thinkers as it explores the distinct problems each sought to overcome.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781451484410
Publisher:	Augsburg Fortress, Publishers
Publication date:	07/01/2014
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	NOOK Book
Pages:	208
File size:	2 MB
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Roland Boer is Xin Ao Professor of Literature at Renmin University of China and Research Professor at the University of Newcastle, Australia.
Christina Petterson is a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Newcastle, Australia

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Introduction 1

1 Hugo Grotius: Rewriting the Narrative of the Fall 9

2 John Locke and the Trouble with Adam 47

3 Adam Smith the Storyteller 87

4 The Lust and Hunger of the Thomas Malthus 131

Conclusion 167

Bibliography 179

Index 193