Die Adam Smith Probleme

The great German mathematician David Hilbert famously identified 23 unsolved problems in mathematics in 1900. Following Hilbert’s example, this paper contributes to the literature on Adam Smith by identifying several unsolved problems involving the life and work of the great philosopher-economist Adam Smith. In summary, the remainder of the paper will be organized as follows. Part I identifies several questions regarding Smith’s main works, ideas, and beliefs. Next, Part II explores some open questions regarding various aspects of Adam Smith’s private life, including his reasons for leaving Oxford, his love life, and his grand tour years, while Part III identifies some miscellaneous Adam Smith mysteries, such as his views on politics and religion. Part IV concludes with a final set of open questions from Adam Smith’s last years