168 ADAM SMITH. 



error in their preposterous attempts to explain the 

 inscrutable union of the soul and the body, and to 

 account for the phenomena of mind by the nature or 

 affection of the nerves ; while at a somewhat earlier 

 date, Berkeley, an inquirer of a much higher order, 

 had applied himself to psychological, and not to ethical 

 studies. 



As ethics in its extended sense comprehends both 

 the duties and capacities, and the moral and intellectual 

 qualities of individuals, and their relations to each other 

 in society, so may it also extend to the interests and the 

 regulation of society, that is, to the polity of states in 

 both its branches, both the structure and the functions 

 of government, with a view to securing the happiness 

 of the people. Hence it may include everything that 

 concerns the rights, as well as the duties of citizens, all 

 that regards their good government, all the branches of 

 jurisprudence, all the principles that govern the pro- 

 duction and distribution of wealth, the employment 

 and protection of labour, the progress of population, 

 the defence of the state, the education of its inhabi- 

 tants ; in a word, political science, including, as one of 

 its main branches, political economy. When, there- 

 fore, ethical speculations had made so great progress, 

 it was natural that this important subject should also 

 engage the attention of scientific men ; and we find, 

 accordingly, that in the early part of the eighteenth 

 century the attention of the learned and, in some but 

 in a moderate degree, of statesmen also, was directed 

 to these inquiries. Some able works had touched in 

 the preceding century upon the subjects of money and 

 trade. Sound and useful ideas upon these were to be 

 found scattered through the writings of Mr. Locke ; 

 But at a much earlier period, Mr. Min, both in 1621 

 and 1664, had cornbatted successfully, as far as reason- 

 ing went, without any success in making converts, the 

 old and mischievous, but natural fallacy, that the pre- 

 cious metals are the constituents of wealth. Soon after 



