PREREQUISITES FOR THE BRITISH ECONOMICS

Abstract

This article is dedicated to the problem of the
origin of economics. The socio-cultural conditions for the
emergence of a new science are considered: the accumulated
practical knowledge that accompanied the development
of trade, industry, and eventually led to the emergence of a
market economy; theoretical and practical knowledge from
rich literary sources; the Ancient, Medieval and Modern Time
philosophers interest in the ongoing economic processes,
posing questions about these processes, revealing the problems
of meaning and signifi cance of economic events for the
society. The article especially focuses on the Scottish philosophers
of the 17 and 18th centuries F. Hutcheson, D. Hume
and A. Ferguson, the socio-economic views of the latter being
of special importance as well as the views of Adam Smith,
whose ideas show close affi nity between the thinkers.