Mark Rathbone
Biographic Data
| ID | 244632 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Mark Rathbone |
| GIVEN NAMES | Mark |
| FAMILY NAME | Rathbone |
| SIGNATURE | RATHBONE M |
| AFFILIATIONS | North-West University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-3149-9524 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 15 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 13 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 15 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2015 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Adam Smith’s Theory of Moral Development, Human Nature and Commerce
Adam Smith’s The Theory of Moral Sentiments (1759) and The Wealth of Nations (1776) offer a distinctive perspective on moral development that avoids succumbing to the limitations of capitalism and utilitarianism by supporting both moral agency and the importance of enabling structures and systems in commerce. Corruption of moral sentiments cannot be averted by enforcing only mechanical structures and systems of compliance with governance rules, r…
Unveiling Adam Smith’s Invisible Hands
This article provides a critical evaluation of Giorgio Agamben’s argument that Adam Smith’s metaphor of the invisible hand is representative of economic theology and providential control. Although Agamben’s analysis does not explicate a nuanced view of the invisible hand, it does reveal the embedded economic theology in its misuse by neoliberal economists who characterise the invisible hand as a fundamental mechanism of market coordination consis…
“The poor man’s son” and Adam Smith’s theory of beauty
The article's novelty is its focus on the role of Smith’s theory of beauty and its implications for utility, systems, and morality in the narrative of “The Poor Man’s Son”. From his enlightenment worldview, the narrative contains Smith’s criticism of the misguided or reductionist view of the beauty of utility and affirmation of harmonious systems. Adam Smith’s narrative of “The Poor Man’s Son” in his book, The theory of moral sentiments [1759], h…
Capabilities, Development, and Communitarianism in the African Context
This paper provides a critical reflection and exploration of African development with reference to enhancing human flourishing in Amartya Sen’s capability theory. However, we identify some core limitations to Sen’s theory of development due to its reliance on neoliberal principles. These principles can be discouraging for African self-directed emancipatory development projects. We argue that the notion of communitarianism in Africa can provide al…
Old Testament hospitality as reciprocity, Adam Smith and business ethics
This article aims to underscore the progression of Old Testament hospitality as reciprocity for moral guidance and, specifically, business ethics in contemporary society. The study follows a comparative analysis of Old Testament hospitality and reciprocity in the work of Adam Smith that emphasises the role of mutual relations and voluntary exchange. It will be argued that reciprocity associated with hospitality in the Old Testament is an importan…
Commerce, labour and happiness
This article highlights the philosophical contribution of an existential reading of Adam Smith’s narrative of ‘The poor man’s son’ that opens transdisciplinary research themes. The narrative in Adam Smith’s The Theory of Moral Sentiments [1759] deals with the issue of labour and happiness in commercial society, an important contemporary topic in meaningful labour research. This field is dominated by research on labour’s personal or moral value, w…
The labourers in the vineyard, theory of value and agriculture
The purpose of this article was to investigate the potential that the labour and subjective theory of value in the agricultural context may have for the interpretation of Matthew 20:1–16. This investigation highlighted the divergence in wages between workers, the exuberant remuneration strategy of the landowner, his generosity, the indignation of the labourers hired first and the landowner’s reluctance to reimburse them. I argued that the classic…
Life, death and commodification
The purpose of this article is to analyse Adam Smith’s view of death in The Theory of Moral Sentiments for commercial society to determine whether the current commodification of goods (e.g. pharmaceuticals) and services (e.g. cryogenics) to assist people to deal with the fear of death was what Smith envisioned for meaningful existence and to find out what he proposed as a means to manage the fear of death in existence. The investigation revealed …
Moral theory, agrarianism and sustainable free market economics in the work of Adam Smith
The purpose of this article is to argue that Adam Smith's assessment of agrarian economics is based on the transdisciplinary engagement between moral theory and economics in An inquiry into nature and causes of the wealth of nations (first published in 1776). This assessment draws on recent scholarship that underscores that Smith's earlier work The Theory of Moral Sentiments (first published in 1759) is not in conflict with Smith's economic theor…
Laughter in the economic philosophy of Adam Smith
Laughter is relatively unexplored in Adam Smith’s economic philosophy. In this article, laughter in Smith’s two major works The theory of moral sentiments and An inquiry into the nature and causes of the wealth of nations will be surveyed to assess the role it possibly played in his work, and whether there is a link between laughter and economics. It will be argued that although it is not a major theme in Smith’s work, there is a link between lau…
Financial management and phenomenology
In this article, it will be argued that subjective assumptions play a prominent part in the way valuations are conducted and investment decisions are made by financial managers (FMs) from the perspective of agency theory. The problem is that there is a general absence of rules of compliance for financial management. Quantitative calculations are based on theories, models and accepted practices that guide FMs in their decision-making process. The …
Capitalism, the Book of Amos and Adam Smith
The purpose of this study is to challenge the criticism of capitalism by biblical scholars that is based on references to the prophetic tradition in the Old Testament and specifically the Book of Amos. In many of these reflections, capitalism is viewed as a corrupt and morally dysfunctional system that perpetuates economic injustice. In order to challenge these perspectives, the prophet Amos and Adam Smith (to whom the legacy of capitalism is gen…
Desire, self-love and sympathy
In this article it will be argued that post-capitalism operates from a reductionist understanding of capitalism as a market-driven ideology with the private ownership of the means of productions as core value. Post-capitalism envisions that contemporary socio-economic issues will be addressed with the implosion of capitalism under the forces of the market itself. However, this implosion envisioned by post-capitalism has been undermined because ca…
Adam Smith, the Impartial Spectator and Embodiment
This article argues that Adam Smith's notion of sympathy and the impartial spectator in his work The Theory of Moral Sentiments [1759] connects the individual to society. In this work, Smith's economics are far more complex than mere self-interest as a driver of commerce. Self-interest functions within a socio-ethical framework that limits excess and narcissism. However, morality was not based on normative assumptions for Smith and Hume. Morality…
Love, money and madness
In this paper, the economic philosophies of Adam Smith (1723–1790) and Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–1778) are discussed, with special reference to their respective views on money. It is argued that self-love plays an important role in their philosophies of money. For Smith, self-love is the foundation of economic activity and a means to quantify exchange relations. Rousseau, in turn, rejects money because of the possibility that it may give rise t…
Adam Smith, the Impartial Spectator and Embodiment
This article argues that Adam Smith's notion of sympathy and the impartial spectator in his work The Theory of Moral Sentiments [1759] connects the individual to society. In this work, Smith's economics are far more complex than mere self-interest as a driver of commerce. Self-interest functions within a socio-ethical framework that limits excess and narcissism. However, morality was not based on normative assumptions for Smith and Hume. Morality…
Love, money and madness
In this paper, the economic philosophies of Adam Smith (1723–1790) and Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–1778) are discussed, with special reference to their respective views on money. It is argued that self-love plays an important role in their philosophies of money. For Smith, self-love is the foundation of economic activity and a means to quantify exchange relations. Rousseau, in turn, rejects money because of the possibility that it may give rise t…
Desire, self-love and sympathy
In this article it will be argued that post-capitalism operates from a reductionist understanding of capitalism as a market-driven ideology with the private ownership of the means of productions as core value. Post-capitalism envisions that contemporary socio-economic issues will be addressed with the implosion of capitalism under the forces of the market itself. However, this implosion envisioned by post-capitalism has been undermined because ca…
Commerce, labour and happiness
This article highlights the philosophical contribution of an existential reading of Adam Smith’s narrative of ‘The poor man’s son’ that opens transdisciplinary research themes. The narrative in Adam Smith’s The Theory of Moral Sentiments [1759] deals with the issue of labour and happiness in commercial society, an important contemporary topic in meaningful labour research. This field is dominated by research on labour’s personal or moral value, w…
Love, money and madness
In this paper, the economic philosophies of Adam Smith (1723–1790) and Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–1778) are discussed, with special reference to their respective views on money. It is argued that self-love plays an important role in their philosophies of money. For Smith, self-love is the foundation of economic activity and a means to quantify exchange relations. Rousseau, in turn, rejects money because of the possibility that it may give rise t…
Adam Smith, the Impartial Spectator and Embodiment
This article argues that Adam Smith's notion of sympathy and the impartial spectator in his work The Theory of Moral Sentiments [1759] connects the individual to society. In this work, Smith's economics are far more complex than mere self-interest as a driver of commerce. Self-interest functions within a socio-ethical framework that limits excess and narcissism. However, morality was not based on normative assumptions for Smith and Hume. Morality…
Desire, self-love and sympathy
In this article it will be argued that post-capitalism operates from a reductionist understanding of capitalism as a market-driven ideology with the private ownership of the means of productions as core value. Post-capitalism envisions that contemporary socio-economic issues will be addressed with the implosion of capitalism under the forces of the market itself. However, this implosion envisioned by post-capitalism has been undermined because ca…
Capitalism, the Book of Amos and Adam Smith
The purpose of this study is to challenge the criticism of capitalism by biblical scholars that is based on references to the prophetic tradition in the Old Testament and specifically the Book of Amos. In many of these reflections, capitalism is viewed as a corrupt and morally dysfunctional system that perpetuates economic injustice. In order to challenge these perspectives, the prophet Amos and Adam Smith (to whom the legacy of capitalism is gen…
Laughter in the economic philosophy of Adam Smith
Laughter is relatively unexplored in Adam Smith’s economic philosophy. In this article, laughter in Smith’s two major works The theory of moral sentiments and An inquiry into the nature and causes of the wealth of nations will be surveyed to assess the role it possibly played in his work, and whether there is a link between laughter and economics. It will be argued that although it is not a major theme in Smith’s work, there is a link between lau…
Financial management and phenomenology
In this article, it will be argued that subjective assumptions play a prominent part in the way valuations are conducted and investment decisions are made by financial managers (FMs) from the perspective of agency theory. The problem is that there is a general absence of rules of compliance for financial management. Quantitative calculations are based on theories, models and accepted practices that guide FMs in their decision-making process. The …
The labourers in the vineyard, theory of value and agriculture
The purpose of this article was to investigate the potential that the labour and subjective theory of value in the agricultural context may have for the interpretation of Matthew 20:1–16. This investigation highlighted the divergence in wages between workers, the exuberant remuneration strategy of the landowner, his generosity, the indignation of the labourers hired first and the landowner’s reluctance to reimburse them. I argued that the classic…
Life, death and commodification
The purpose of this article is to analyse Adam Smith’s view of death in The Theory of Moral Sentiments for commercial society to determine whether the current commodification of goods (e.g. pharmaceuticals) and services (e.g. cryogenics) to assist people to deal with the fear of death was what Smith envisioned for meaningful existence and to find out what he proposed as a means to manage the fear of death in existence. The investigation revealed …
Moral theory, agrarianism and sustainable free market economics in the work of Adam Smith
The purpose of this article is to argue that Adam Smith's assessment of agrarian economics is based on the transdisciplinary engagement between moral theory and economics in An inquiry into nature and causes of the wealth of nations (first published in 1776). This assessment draws on recent scholarship that underscores that Smith's earlier work The Theory of Moral Sentiments (first published in 1759) is not in conflict with Smith's economic theor…
Capabilities, Development, and Communitarianism in the African Context
This paper provides a critical reflection and exploration of African development with reference to enhancing human flourishing in Amartya Sen’s capability theory. However, we identify some core limitations to Sen’s theory of development due to its reliance on neoliberal principles. These principles can be discouraging for African self-directed emancipatory development projects. We argue that the notion of communitarianism in Africa can provide al…
Old Testament hospitality as reciprocity, Adam Smith and business ethics
This article aims to underscore the progression of Old Testament hospitality as reciprocity for moral guidance and, specifically, business ethics in contemporary society. The study follows a comparative analysis of Old Testament hospitality and reciprocity in the work of Adam Smith that emphasises the role of mutual relations and voluntary exchange. It will be argued that reciprocity associated with hospitality in the Old Testament is an importan…
Commerce, labour and happiness
This article highlights the philosophical contribution of an existential reading of Adam Smith’s narrative of ‘The poor man’s son’ that opens transdisciplinary research themes. The narrative in Adam Smith’s The Theory of Moral Sentiments [1759] deals with the issue of labour and happiness in commercial society, an important contemporary topic in meaningful labour research. This field is dominated by research on labour’s personal or moral value, w…
“The poor man’s son” and Adam Smith’s theory of beauty
The article's novelty is its focus on the role of Smith’s theory of beauty and its implications for utility, systems, and morality in the narrative of “The Poor Man’s Son”. From his enlightenment worldview, the narrative contains Smith’s criticism of the misguided or reductionist view of the beauty of utility and affirmation of harmonious systems. Adam Smith’s narrative of “The Poor Man’s Son” in his book, The theory of moral sentiments [1759], h…
Adam Smith’s Theory of Moral Development, Human Nature and Commerce
Adam Smith’s The Theory of Moral Sentiments (1759) and The Wealth of Nations (1776) offer a distinctive perspective on moral development that avoids succumbing to the limitations of capitalism and utilitarianism by supporting both moral agency and the importance of enabling structures and systems in commerce. Corruption of moral sentiments cannot be averted by enforcing only mechanical structures and systems of compliance with governance rules, r…
Unveiling Adam Smith’s Invisible Hands
This article provides a critical evaluation of Giorgio Agamben’s argument that Adam Smith’s metaphor of the invisible hand is representative of economic theology and providential control. Although Agamben’s analysis does not explicate a nuanced view of the invisible hand, it does reveal the embedded economic theology in its misuse by neoliberal economists who characterise the invisible hand as a fundamental mechanism of market coordination consis…
Sociology (11 works) · Philosophy (10 works) · Economics (9 works) · Law (9 works) · Political science (9 works) · Adam smith (6 works) · Psychology (6 works) · Social Psychology (6 works) · Epistemology (5 works) · Political Economy and Marxism (5 works)