Smith's predecessors argued that the profusion and waste of the rich brought a living to the poor. They might be described as proto-Keynesians. Smith's message was less cynical. We do learn from it who the dons of Balliol College were when Smith was in attendance there, and I suppose somebody will want to know that. We learn a great deal about the building activities of Smith's father's friends, and I'm sure that information also answers some crying academic need.
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