BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Fourteen Campbell Business students recently participated in a colloquium hosted and organized by associate professor of economics Dr. Mark Steckbeck. Students read excerpts from Scottish Enlightenment philosophers David Hume and Adam Smith, and then discussed these authors’ ideas on moral and virtuous behavior, as well as free markets, and their importance for sustaining a free society.
“What I most enjoyed about the discussion colloquium was the ability to both share and learn from fellow students,” said Campbell Business senior finance major Amber Schisler. “Because we had such a great group of intelligent students, I was able to analyze the information with more depth and understanding. Being able to understand the different ways in which we each thought about the same information was great!
“I think one of the most rewarding bits of information I was presented with was Adam Smith's view on sympathy and Justice through The Theory of Moral Sentiments. Of course everyone knows of Smith's economic theories, but I was extremely intrigued by the way in which Smith approached the ideas of sympathy, empathy and human compassion. I intend to read further into this particular work of Smith's because it is so interesting!”
“The reading was complex and these students did an outstanding job of comprehending and discussing the authors’ primary arguments of what brings about virtuous and moral behavior, and why these human traits are necessary for the functioning of a free market capitalist society,” said Dr. Steckbeck. “Every one of the students made meaningful contributions to the discussions and made Campbell Business School stand out as noted by Courtney Derr from The John Templeton Foundation, which sponsored the event.”
In addition to the colloquium, Dr. Steckbeck has hosted a number of events through the semester, including two movie showings and a reading group.
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