Envy, Greed, and Billionaires (with David Lay Williams)

David Lay Williams's 'The Greatest of All Plagues' traces concerns about extreme wealth and inequality through the Western political-philosophical tradition, from ancient Greece to contemporary debates. The book examines how thinkers like Plato, Hobbes, Mill, Rousseau, and Marx diagnosed excessive accumulation as a moral and political problem. Williams argues that extreme wealth warps character—what classical authors called pleonexia—and threatens republican institutions through oligarchy and domination. He situates modern phenomena, including figures like contemporary billionaires, within this longue durée conversation to show recurring worries about power and empathy. The book aims to provoke renewed debate about inequality's effects on social character and democratic stability.

Published in 1776, 'The Wealth of Nations' is Adam Smith's magnum opus that laid the groundwork for modern economics. The book critiques mercantilist economic theories and introduces the concept of the 'invisible hand,' which describes how individual self-interest leads to societal benefit. It emphasizes the division of labor, the accumulation of capital, and the importance of free markets. Smith argues that a nation's wealth is not measured by its gold and silver reserves but by the stream of goods and services it produces. The book also outlines the core functions of government, such as maintaining defense, enforcing civil law, and promoting education, while advocating for limited government intervention in market activities.

In *Bourgeois Dignity*, Deirdre McCloskey challenges traditional explanations for the Industrial Revolution by arguing that a change in rhetoric surrounding the dignity of business and innovation was crucial. She posits that this shift in societal attitudes toward the bourgeoisie in Northwest Europe during the 18th century was the primary driver of economic growth. The book is part of a series exploring the role of ideas and dignity in economic development.

Published in 1859, 'On Liberty' is a seminal work by John Stuart Mill that argues for the protection of individual freedoms from the tyranny of the majority and government interference. Mill uses utilitarian philosophy to justify the value of liberty, emphasizing the importance of freedom of thought, discussion, and action. He introduces the 'harm principle,' which states that individuals should only be restrained from acting when their conduct may harm others. The essay is structured into five chapters, each addressing different aspects of liberty, including the liberty of thought and discussion, individual liberty, the limits of authority, and practical applications of his theories. Mill argues that protecting individual liberties is essential for societal progress and the avoidance of social stagnation.