Adam Smith on Slavery
There were two types of slaves in Scotland during Adam Smith’s lifetime. The first were chattel slaves of African descent. This is what most people envision today when they think about slavery—people who are regarded solely as property with no recourse or relief, even in the face of the most torturous conditions. The second were […] The post Adam Smith on Slavery appeared first on Econlib .
During Adam Smith’s lifetime in 18th-century Scotland, the concept of slavery was far more complex than what is commonly imagined today. While most people associate slavery with the forced labor of enslaved Africans, there was another form of slavery that existed in Scotland at the time, involving coalminers and saltworkers. This duality in the nature of slavery during Smith’s era highlights the nuanced realities of the institution and sheds light on Smith’s own views on the subject.
The first type of slavery in Scotland during Smith’s lifetime was the chattel slavery of African descent. These enslaved individuals were treated as mere property, devoid of any rights or recourse, often subjected to brutal and inhumane conditions. This is the image of slavery that most people hold today, and it was undoubtedly a significant part of the social fabric during Smith’s time.
However, the second type of slavery in Scotland was less obvious and more insidious. Coalminers, known as colliers, and saltworkers, or salters, were Scotsmen who, despite retaining many of the rights of citizenship, were forced into servitude due to legal loopholes and political pressures. This form of slavery was not based on race but on socioeconomic circumstances, making it a more pervasive and systemic issue.
Adam Smith, the renowned economist and philosopher, was acutely aware of the problem of slavery. He believed that sympathy alone would not lead masters to empathize with their enslaved people. Instead, Smith placed his faith in economic persuasion, dedicating time to address the issue in his classes. He understood that he was educating the future leaders of Scotland and expressed his doubts about whether economic motivation would be enough for masters to liberate those under their control.
In his work, Smith argued that slavery was not only widespread but also inevitable, occurring in all societies at their inception. He was pessimistic about the future of abolition, yet he did not dismiss the possibility of progress. He believed that historical progress was marked not only by the spread of general opulence but also by a gradual transformation in the moral texture of societies.
John W. Danford, in his analysis of Smith’s views, suggests that Smith saw abolition as an uneven process driven by the slow march of history. While Smith was cautiously optimistic about the potential for change, he acknowledged the challenges and obstacles that would need to be overcome.
In conclusion, Adam Smith’s lifetime in Scotland was a time when slavery existed in multiple forms, from the chattel slavery of African descent to the covert slavery of coalminers and saltworkers. Smith’s views on slavery were shaped by his belief in the power of economic reasoning and his recognition of the historical progress that could lead to gradual change. Despite his pessimism about the inevitability of slavery, Smith’s work and teachings laid the groundwork for future abolitionist efforts, reflecting the complex and evolving nature of the institution during his time.
