"Invisible Death": Adam Smith on Technology and Warfare.

The article explores economist Adam Smith's notion of invisible death, his justification for standing armies and stance on military technology and warfare. Topics discussed include Smith's argument regarding modern artillery, firearms, gunpowder and cannons, his theory of national defence driven by independence and liberty enabled by commercial relations, and the conflict between modern weaponry and martial virtues implicit in Smith's criticisms of imperial violence perpetuated by Europeans.