Dow, Sheila Christine2026-06-162026-06-162025Dow, S. C. (2025). Adam Smith and the foundations of pluralism. Social Philosophy and Policy, 42(2), 314–329. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0265052525100411https://doi.org/10.1017/S0265052525100411https://hdl.handle.net/1828/23993The purpose of this essay is to explore Adam Smith’s work for ideas relevant to modern-day discourse on pluralism (understood as methodological pluralism). It is argued here that the emphasis on difference of perspective in his theory of human nature is potentially foundational for pluralism. I explore Smith’s philosophy of science, where his theory of human nature explains the motivation for building knowledge, the conduct of enquiry, and the appraisal of resulting theories. Finally, I explore exemplars of pluralist practice in Smith’s treatment of alternative approaches to economics to his own as well as in his account of different approaches to history and astronomy.enAttribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 Internationalpluralismmoral philosophyeconomic theoryAdam SmithDavid HumeArticleDepartment of Economics