Research | Brennan McDavid

Ancient Political Economy

Since Moses Finley published The Ancient Economy (1973), scholars have rushed in to take a closer look at the economic activities of the ancients as well as the ideas about economic activity that brewed in the minds of their political theorists. My research in this area focuses on the economic insights of Plato, with a new and yet undeveloped thread through Aristotle as well. Read more
My contentious view is that economic insights function as principles in Plato's political theorizing. Recovering what those economic insights are and then showing their explanatory power is my main preocuppation with Plato. My research related to Aristotle centers on his conception of man as a political animal where (per the Historia Animalium 1.1 account of "political animal") it seems that coordination in a division of specialized labor is indispensable to the account. My questions for Aristotle pertain to the boundaries of what he would call "natural" and maybe "properly political" economic activity.

“Plato's Market Optimism.” In: Polis 39 (2022), pp. 456–465. Abstract
"The Psychology of Money in Plato’s Republic.” In: History of Political Economy (Forthcoming). Abstract
“On Why the City of Pigs and Clocks are Not Just.” In: Journal of the History of Philosophy 57 (2019), pp. 57–594. Abstract

Plato's Theory of Human Nature

Plato observes in Republic 6 that human beings, like all other flora and fauna, are born with varying degrees of "vigorousness," which he casts as the potential for greatness. Most scholars have focused on the account of nurture in the Republic, i.e. the beautiful education described in Books 2, 3, and 7. My research in this area explores how Plato conceives of nurture as complementing inborn nature. Read more

Adam Smith's Eudaimonism

Scholars agree that Adam Smith was an avid reader of classical philosophy and that he adopted many tenets of their ethical theories. There is disagreement about which ideas he adopted, however, and to which school he was most loyal. My research in this area focuses on Smith's use of ancient frameworks and conceptions of human capacities and ends for constructing his own moral theory. Read more
As an ancient philosopher by training, I see something kindred in Smith. He read Plato as well as any Platonist writing today. Holding him to a high standard, then, I read him with a view to discerning how he critiques, adopts, and dismisses ancient arguments. I have been particularly interested in his theory of virtue ethics and, indeed, the question of whether or not he is a virtue ethicist.

“Adam Smith and the Creative Role of Imagination.” With Keith Hankins. In: Adam Smith and Modernity: 1723–2023 (ed. Alberto Burgio). New York: Routledge. Abstract
“Aspiration in Adam Smith's Virtue Ethics.” Under review. Abstract

Trust in AI

Applications of artificial intelligence depend upon the willingness of human users to entrust AI tools with information and decision making. While these tools hold the promise of increasing human productivity, releasing us from mundane tasks, and maximizing the returns of a division of labor by allowing us to specialize in one dimension of a task while the tool specializes in another, all of these benefits are on the far side of fostering relationships of trust between human principals and their AI agents. My research in this area explores the trust relationship itself in Human-AI iterations of Principal-Agent relationships. Read more