A lasting legacy
The University of Glasgow recently gathered the great and the good of international academia for a final tercentenary tribute to one of its most famous sons, eminent philosopher and economist – and former lecturer and rector – Adam Smith. Ambition editor Colette Doyle reports from a day of celebration and reflection
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Why Glasgow?, Smith & Economics and Smith & Political Economy. These featured such luminaries of the academic world as Anne Case, the Alexander Stewart 1886 professor of economics and public a airs at Princeton University, Benjamin M Friedman, the William Joseph Maier professor of political economy at Harvard and Mary Morgan, Albert O Hirschman professor of history and philosophy of economics at LSE, the London School of Economics and Political Science. The activities included a specially commissioned piece of music entitled The Symphony of Moral Sentiments , written by Helen MacKinnon, a composer and bachelor of music graduate from the University of Glasgow. The piece, performed by the Hallelujah String Trio, was inspired by Smith’s enduring legacy. It examines how this influences the 572-year-old institution’s students and alumni by
heatre, music, art and debate were all on o er at the Adam Smith 300 Symposium, the closing event of the tercentenary celebrations of the eponymous economist, held in mid-June at the University of Glasgow. The day-long event featured scholars and practitioners from all over the world who brought Smith into compelling conversations that dealt with contemporary issues. Also on show was the work of the entrants of the Rethinking Adam Smith competition, led by the Economics Observatory in partnership with the university’s business school. Students were invited to design a new cover for one of Smith’s books; in addition, a special viewing of material from the university’s Smith archive brought this leading figure of the Scottish Enlightenment vividly to life. Panel discussions, which took place in the impressive surroundings of Hunter Halls West, included Why Smith?
The event featured thought-provoking panel discussions and a performance by the University of Glasgow Chapel Choir
44 | Ambition | JULY/AUGUST 2023
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