The good society: the Illuminated, Karl Marx and Adam Smith

Abstract

Examines the history of the Illuminated, a secret society founded by Adam Weishaupt in Bavaria, on 1 May 1776, which aimed to overthrow civil and religious institutions with the claim that the ends justify the means. Looks at Karl Marx and the links with the Illuminated's doctrine and also compares the Illuminated's ideas with the teaching of Smith. Concludes that although the Illuminated may have been activated by the most altruistic of motives, their search for the good society was doomed from the start.

Citation

Conway O'Brien, J. (2003), "The good society: the Illuminated, Karl Marx and Adam Smith", International Journal of Social Economics, Vol. 30 No. 5, pp. 598-612. https://doi.org/10.1108/03068290310471862