Statue of Adam Smith

Always standing still…
Towering over the mile…
‘Invisable Hand’!

It was back in 2008, when I was walking as normal up the Royal Mile, when suddenly out of the corner of my eye I noticed a huge 10ft bronze statue. «I’m sure this wasn’t here yesterday» I thought, «and 10ft bronze statues upon giant plinths aren’t the sort of thing that’s easy to miss». And so seemingly out of nowhere the statue of Adam Smith was added as one of the Royal Mile landmarks.
Adam Smith is one of the greatest (either in the sense of being really good or Alexander the «Great» style greatness) philosophers Scotland has produced. His ideas remain one of the most hotly debated in the fields of economics, politics and philosophy. A poster boy for the 80s free marketers, who largely twisted a selection of Adam Smith’s work, he is someone who for many represents ideals of the market economy, and for others its delusions. He certainly seems to be one of the most misunderstood philosophers, often though to advocate the sort consumer corporatism we have today, rather than more accurately, and contrastingly, his support for libertarianism and what we might call «classical liberalism». Either way, his importance cannot be understated. He is sometimes knows as the father of economics.
And it is in Edinburgh that Adam Smith worked and finally died in 1790. Up until now there has been nothing marking Adam Smith’s connection to Edinburgh and his part in the city’s huge contribution to the enlightenment. Now we have a 10ft bronze statue!
Sculpted by the famous Andy Stoddart, who also constructed the more famous David Hume statue up the road, the statue is clearly one of, at least, respect. I am not an expert on these things, so I miss the subtleties. Apparently there are references to Smith’s advocating of British trade with the Americas, in the statue’s neck tie which resembles that worn by Thomas Jefferson. Even without realising that sort of detail, this an impressive feat. I actually prefer its detail and overall impression to the David Hume statue.
A monument to one of the world’s most influential thinkers, good or bad, finally recognised in Scotland’s enlightenment capital. It’s free and easy and visit!