The infidel and the professor : David Hume, Adam Smith, and the friendship that shaped modern thought

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The story of the greatest philosophical friendship and its impact on modern thought unfolds through the lives of David Hume and Adam Smith. Hume, often considered the most significant English philosopher, faced severe criticism during his lifetime for his skeptical religious views, earning the label of "the Great Infidel." In contrast, Smith was a respected moral philosophy professor and is now regarded as the father of capitalism. Despite their differing public personas, the two maintained a deep friendship throughout their adult lives, which significantly influenced their groundbreaking ideas. This account chronicles their relationship from their first meeting in 1749 until Hume's death in 1776, highlighting how they critiqued each other's works, supported their careers, and offered personal advice, especially after Hume's dispute with Jean-Jacques Rousseau. As prominent figures in Enlightenment Scotland, they shared many friends and interests, extending beyond philosophy and economics into psychology, history, and politics, including Britain's conflict with the American colonies. The narrative reveals that Smith's private religious beliefs were more aligned with Hume's than commonly thought and illustrates that Hume's contributions to economics and Smith's to philosophy are often underestimated. This vivid account captures a remarkable friendship that profoundly shaped modern thought.