Announcement XXI

Having recovered from the long journey from SW France, I am ready to re-commence posting on Lost Legacy. There is a backlog of Alerts, many of them the usual rubbish, buy perhaps a few gems too.

Thanks for your your understanding.

Gavin

Announcement XXIV

Friday, 23rd, I plan to be en route to France by road (and tunnel) for four weeks, which I left in June, expecting to be in Scotland for a fortnight, but events intervened necessitating hospitalisation.

I am now in recovery and expect the relative quiet of rural life in France to be an aid to these plans.

As usual, there will be Internet connection problems, but of necessity there will be less of an urgency to connect on my part, which you may notice has been a bit of a problem recently.

While I hope to Blog on Lost Legacy, I shall be doing so less regularly until I return in September.

I am advised to do as little as I can to ensure a quicker and surer recovery. Regular walks and daily swimming are on the agenda. Little sitting at computer too.

Above all, I am advised not to get too intense in feelings about things that I care a lot about, of which Lost Legacy is top of the list.

Apologies for all this, but my family considers it is in my best interests. (But nobody can stop me thinking!)

Let’s see how I get on for a while.

Gavin

Announcement XX: Back to Business

I arrived home in Edinburgh on Saturday evening and I am now back online (a plug-in and a switch pressed - if only it was so easy in France...).

En route here, I trawled through Marshall's Principles (the so-called 'volume 1, which turned out to be the only volume) and uncovered some forgotten pieces on Adam Smith, which I may discuss in a future post.

Marshall posted an 'appendix' on the history of economic thought which reads like those parts of the Wealth Of Nations, but with a wholly unSmithian dash of Germanic race-theory and a touch pf British imperialism of the 'Northern' origins of civilised man, moving southwards from the cold regions to displace where it could not reform the weaker races of the hotter climes.

While away, I wrote some examination questions and solutions for my old day job at the Business School, which I shall tidy up an send in for exams in 2011 and 2012.

Announcement XIX

I return to Edinburgh today for three-weeks during which I have a course to attend in London and one in the University of Richmond, Virginia, Summer Institute, before returning to France 26 June until early August.

It is expected that I should be back on-line on Sunday, and hopefully during the events in London and the US.

Please be patient. These disruptions are unavoidable.

Gavin

Announcement XVIII

At Last, reconnected!

Took 7 days. However, it seems to be working now and I hope to be back to normal in a short while, once I clear the backlog.

Apologies

Gavin


PS Only comments were from a spam attack emanating from China ...

Announcement XVII

Today I hope to travel to Bordeaux (France), volcanic ash permitting, for three weeks.

The usual problem of connecting to the Internet arises in the French countryside - broadband becomes narrow band. I shall do my best to be online as soon as is practicable.

There are several tasks to complete in France, including the receipt of poof for the paperback edition of Adam Smith: a moral philosopher and his political economy (Palgrave Macmillan).

I have three papers awaiting decisions and may require amending (or a re-write if rejected).

Plus, some exams to write with solutions for my old day job.

Er, and some household chores to complete...

Announcement XIV

Returned to Edinburgh and somewhat jet lagged, plus in new home with everything in removal boxes.

First task: empty boxes and distribute contents appropriately round new house;

Second task: connect new Apple computer;

Third task: household chores;

Fourth task: sleep.

Shall be active on Wednesday on Lost Legacy.

Gavin

Announcement XIII

My sunny Australian 'holiday' comes to a close. I'm on my way back to Scotland tomorrow (Sunday) and to our new Edinburgh home - and scores of boxes to empty and other chores assigned for my personal attention.

At present, I am told, the Internet connection isn't and it may be some days before it is, even with my new Apple computer awaiting a link up. My return to Apple after 35 years may not run smoothly, but it will run eventually, I am assured. Thank goodness I can escape from Windows 7.

While away, I have been editing the new paperback edition of "Adam Smith: a moral philosopher and his political economy" for Palgrave. It's going well, though slowly.

Treating my paper: The Hidden Adam Smith in his Alleged Theology, as part 1 on his drift from Christianity, I am also now working on part 2: on his alleged Deist and Providential views.

So it will be back to normal at Lost Legacy - soon.

Announcement XII

I have been unable to post since Sunday due to a sudden heavy cold/cough episode, which tied me close to my bed until today (Wednesday).

This has knocked my schedule out completely, as a) we get entry to our new house Thursday (Tomorrow) and there is much to do arranging the administration of the first part of our move; b) I am flying to Australia on Saturday and there is also ultra much to do; c) my intended academic work intruded upon. I was meant to be finishing a couple of papers (one: my response to the brilliant new paper by Daniel Klein and Brandon Lucas, which I wanted them to have before I went to Australia; two: my re-drafted paper on "The Hidden Adam Smith in his Alleged Theology", which I shall send off this evening.

Apologies, but this has squeezed out Lost Legacy. Those who know me will know how difficult it has been to focus on the main, delayed, tasks.

I shall be in Australia until 22 Feb (not a good domestic move, two days after we move in!).

I shall post before I go (and during my visit).

Gavin

Announcement XI

I have been out of aciton since Monday with a bug. Now recovered, I think.

Gavin

Announcement X

I saw two comments, one from Entech and one from Nick Gruen, which 'disappeared' and I would apreciate if they were reposted either on the Blog or via my email (gavin At negweb doT com).

The reaons for these losses are obscure.

Gavin

Announcement IX

I am still having difficulty with posting legitmate comments on Lost Legacy. I click Publish, then they disappear, as appened to 'Entech' yesterday.

Therefore, may I ask readers, if their comments does not appear within 24 hours (it's probably 'lost', to repost it or send it direct to me (gavin At negweb dOT com).

I am asking my IT expert (my daughter) to examine what happens - what, perhaps I am doing wrong - and, after the present winter weather, alter my (mis)behaviour.

Lost Legacy values it readers comments - good or hostile. Please keep sending them int.

Gavin

Announcement IX

First and second of three moves completed.

From now to end of January, when we prepare for our third move in February into our new home, I have time for my passion of Adam Smith’s Lost Legacy and related subjects.

On that agenda are these three main projects:

1 A considered response (Draft title: “The Unimportance of Muddle”) to the brilliant detective work of Dan Klein and Brandon Lucas in their most welcome paper, “In an Word or Two, Placed in the Middle: The Invisible Hand in Smith’s Tomes” – already underway.

2 A review and discussion of Milgate and Stimson’s “After Adam Smith: a century of transformation in Politics and Political Economy” (Princeton University Press). I shall tackle this book a chapter at a time, with the first chapter posted here before Christmas Day.

3 A new paper on the (provisional title) “The Modern Myths Among Modern Economists of the Invisible Hand From the 1930s” which I hope to present (if accepted, of course) at the Summer School for the Preservation of the History of Economics Thought at University of Richmond, VA, June, 2010.

Plus, of course, the resumption normal daily service of the Lost Legacy Blog.

Meanwhile, I am grading 103 post-graduate examination papers for my old day job (I have complete the first 31).

Gavin

Announcement VIII

By separate post I received a suggestion from someone who signed off as “a very interested reader”:

“Could you please consider putting an FAQ page that summarizes your main views about Adam Smith's ideas and the common myths that you want to dispel?”

I asked what did he/she mean – perhaps an example?:

He/she has suggested the following:

“FAQ:

- What did Adam Smith mean by the invisible hand?

- What are common misconceptions, misinterpretations or misuses of that phrase? of his ideas in general?

- What are common criticisms toward your views on Adam Smith? What are your rebuttals to those criticisms?”

Comment
I have discussed the technical details of having a separate page on Lost Legacy for an FAQ feature and it is possible, as long as I don’t want it done before New Year.

However, it can be done from when I return from a visit to Australia (February 2010) and I have arranged for the FAQ feature to be added to Lost Legacy at that time.

Meanwhile, over the seasonal holidays I shall try out some FAQ-type posts on the main Blog addressing questions like those above. From my experience of FAQs at my old Business-School day job, over time the FAQs add up to a lengthy text (longer than the course text itself). Perhaps I can make entry-level text out of this venture?

Gavin

PS: thanks to the unknown "very interested reader" who made the contructive suggestion this month.

Announcement VI

It looks like there will be a paperback edition of my Adam Smith: a moral philosopher and his political economy (2008, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, UK and New York, USA).

As soon as we are settled in our new home in Edinburgh in February (fortuitously the lawyer reported today that the missives are exchanged on the sale: a "bargain is concluded", as we say in Scotland) and I am clear of my current and pending projects (of which my response to Daniel Klein's detective work is paramount, followed by the full length book review of the impressive Milgate and Stimson's After Adam Smith: a century of transformation in politics and political economy), Princeton University press) I shall commence work on preparing the paperback edition, taking the opportunity, by invitation of the publisher's editor, to revise and reduce the length of some chapters.

I shall keep readers informed.

Announcement V

Five Topics

1 First of three moves today (Move 1): Transferring basics and temporary office to my daughter's today and tomorrow (may work on-line between old home and my daughter's for a week or two). Hence, very busy with 1st move boxes and some furniture.

2 From the above event there may well be interruptions to Lost Legacy - please have patience.

Move 2 is when our old house is cleared into temporary storage on 14December (old house changes hands on 18 December).

Move 3 is from our temporary abode with my daughter (her second baby due - imminent this week!) of our furniture and my library from the storage people on 4 February to our new house, a couple of miles away.

3 The need to moderate comments continues - the Chinese spammers continue to make 'comments' (about what I do not know) in Chinese - but the Moderator system on Blogger is 'suspect'. I post to publish and they disappear!

Please could potential commentators post their comments via the email address at the top of the home page?

4 Work proceeds slowly on the 'metaphor in the middle' riddle but it is proceeding very slowly. This is most frustrating.

5 My review/discussion of Murray Wilgate and Shannon C. Stimson, After Adam Smith: a century of transformation in politics and political economy, 2009, Princeton University Press, is held up until at least 14 December, for which my deeply-felt apologies. It is worthy of notice by all Smithian scholars.

Thank you

Gavin

Announcement IV

I took a short break yesterday either side of lunch and posted on Lost Legacy.

However, the spam comments attack continues - 17 since Saturday - all in Chinese and the bits in English are weird.

Those few appropriate comments were published - the rest were rejected.

I have snatched moments to continue reading and I am making slow progress in my response to Daniel Klein's paper. I think I can now track what Adam Smith did in his various editions to maintain 'centrality' of the metaphor of "an invisible hand".
However, with about 1/3rd of my books despoatached to local charity shops, I have a long way to go to clear the house in a couple of weeks.

Keep reading.

Gavin

Announcement 3

I have a couple of pressing projects on the go:

1 Daniel Klein and Brandon Lucas's "In a Word or Two, Placed in the Middle" (October 2009), which is their most interesting paper on the significance of the "metaphor" of the "invisible hand" for Adam Smith (from an idea of Thucydides).

This is underway and I was estimating a response in a week or so.

2 A review of Murray Milgate and Shannon C. Stimson's "After Adam Smith: a century of transformation in politics and political economy", 2009, Princeton University Press, was to appear in chapter instlaments from this week.

However, we have had our house (downsizing after the children left the nest for their own homes) on the market since November 2008 (the month when the UK property market finally went into free-fall).

The market has picked up and we accepted a (negotiated) offer for our house. The purchasers required an early entry date ("before Christmas") and we agreed today to this condition, previously expecting a leisurely transfer in February 2010. This gives us about four weeks to dismantle the house contents down to sufficient for two persons instead of five. Plus move my library. And look around the market for a suitable new, smaller, house in south Edinburgh.

The immediate consequence is that I am going to be very busy domestically for several weeks emptying one house, moving some of our property into a daughter's house until we settle on a new house, placing most of our property into storage, ready for the new house, and sending some of the surplsu to our French house.

Scholarly-wise, this is most "inconvenient", while domestically it is a great relief, believe me.

I shall do what I can, when I can, on the above two projects, but slower than I had anticipated. Be sure, however, that the two projects will be completed and posted on Lost Legacy.

I regard Daniel Klein and Brandon Lucas's "In a Word or Two, Placed in the Middle" (October 2009), as the most important paper on the invisible hand for many a year and it requires a considered response. In my teens we called this a "put up or shut up" moment. I hope you will bear with me over the next few weeks as I prepare my "put up" response, or, if the case merits it, my "shut up" resignation.

My review of Milgate and Stimson, similarly, will plod a long somewhat slower but it will appear - that's a promise.

Thank you

Gavin

Announcement - temporary no connection from 11am UK time

I am travelling back to Edinburgh from France today (Saturday) and will reconnect, all being well, later this evening.

It looks like an interesting debate is commencing between myself and Bruce on the geo-historical formation and evolution of property (see my post on the ideas of Bruce for Thursday and follow the links to Bruce's website).

Announcement - connected

Connected 09.45pm French time.

Shall post Sunday.

Gavin