Madsen Pirie
Encyclopedia
Dr Duncan Madsen Pirie, PhD (born 24 August 1940) is a British
researcher, author, and educator. He is the founder and current President of the Adam Smith Institute
, a UK think tank
which has been in operation since 1978.
, Dr. Pirie is the son of Douglas Pirie and Eva Madsen. As a child he attended the Humberstone Foundation School (also known as Clee Grammar School for Boys; now the comprehensive Matthew Humberstone School
) in Old Clee
, Lincolnshire
.
He is a graduate of the University of Edinburgh
, gaining an MA
in 1970. From the University of St Andrews
he gained a PhD
in 1974, and at Pembroke College
, Cambridge
he gained an MPhil
in 1997.
. He has worked with educational institutions and was a Distinguished Visiting Professor of Logic
and Philosophy
at Hillsdale College
, Hillsdale
, Michigan
, USA. His work in helping to develop the Citizen's Charter
led to his appointment to the British Prime Minister John Major's
Advisory Panel from 1991 to 1995. He also suggested the short-lived Community Charge
, a poll tax.
Dr. Pirie was one of three Scots living in the United States that helped to found the Adam Smith Institute. The Institute is a UK-based think tank
that champions the ideas of free market policy. In January 2010 Foreign Policy and the University of Pennsylvania
named the Adam Smith Institute among the top 10 think tanks in the world outside of the US. The Institute is highly influential in UK public policy, and was "a pioneer of privatisation" in the UK and elsewhere.
Apart from his work within the Adam Smith Institute, Pirie is the author of several books, including the best-selling How to Win Every Argument, Boost Your IQ, Freedom 101 and the Sherlock Holmes
IQ Book. More recently he has authored the book 101 Great Philosophers. He also writes science fiction novels for young adults.
Dr. Pirie appears regularly as a commentator on CNN
and BBC
television, and he is a keen film buff along with regularly participating in rocket launches at Cambridge.
He is also on the Board of Advisers of the UK Liberty League, which describes itself as "a network for freedom-loving groups across the nation".
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
researcher, author, and educator. He is the founder and current President of the Adam Smith Institute
Adam Smith Institute
The Adam Smith Institute, abbreviated to ASI, is a think tank based in the United Kingdom, named after one of the founders of modern economics, Adam Smith. It espouses free market and classical liberal views, in particular by creating radical policy options in the light of public choice theory,...
, a UK think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
which has been in operation since 1978.
Early life and education
Born in HullKingston upon Hull
Kingston upon Hull , usually referred to as Hull, is a city and unitary authority area in the ceremonial county of the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It stands on the River Hull at its junction with the Humber estuary, 25 miles inland from the North Sea. Hull has a resident population of...
, Dr. Pirie is the son of Douglas Pirie and Eva Madsen. As a child he attended the Humberstone Foundation School (also known as Clee Grammar School for Boys; now the comprehensive Matthew Humberstone School
Matthew Humberstone School
Matthew Humberstone Church of England School, often shortened to MHS or, more affectionately, Matty, was a comprehensive school in Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire, with a Church of England tradition...
) in Old Clee
Old Clee
Old Clee is located in the Clee Road and Carr Lane area of eastern Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, England and adjoins the neighbouring town of Cleethorpes, with which it has historic links. Previously a separate village, its parish church of Holy Trinity and Saint Mary, claimed to be the oldest...
, Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
.
He is a graduate of the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
, gaining an MA
Master of Arts (Scotland)
A Master of Arts in Scotland can refer to an undergraduate academic degree in humanities and social sciences awarded by the ancient universities of Scotland – the University of St Andrews, the University of Glasgow, the University of Aberdeen and the University of Edinburgh, while the University of...
in 1970. From the University of St Andrews
University of St Andrews
The University of St Andrews, informally referred to as "St Andrews", is the oldest university in Scotland and the third oldest in the English-speaking world after Oxford and Cambridge. The university is situated in the town of St Andrews, Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. It was founded between...
he gained a PhD
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
in 1974, and at Pembroke College
Pembroke College, Cambridge
Pembroke College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college has over seven hundred students and fellows, and is the third oldest college of the university. Physically, it is one of the university's larger colleges, with buildings from almost every century since its...
, Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
he gained an MPhil
Master of Philosophy
The Master of Philosophy is a postgraduate research degree.An M.Phil. is a lesser degree than a Doctor of Philosophy , but in many cases it is considered to be a more senior degree than a taught Master's degree, as it is often a thesis-only degree. In some instances, an M.Phil...
in 1997.
Career
Prior to helping found the Adam Smith Institute, Pirie worked for the United States House of RepresentativesUnited States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. He has worked with educational institutions and was a Distinguished Visiting Professor of Logic
Logic
In philosophy, Logic is the formal systematic study of the principles of valid inference and correct reasoning. Logic is used in most intellectual activities, but is studied primarily in the disciplines of philosophy, mathematics, semantics, and computer science...
and Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
at Hillsdale College
Hillsdale College
Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan, United States, is a co-educational liberal arts college known for being the first American college to prohibit in its charter all discrimination based on race, religion, or sex; its refusal of government funding; and its monthly publication, Imprimis...
, Hillsdale
Hillsdale, Michigan
Hillsdale is a city in the state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 8,305. It is the county seat of Hillsdale County, and is run as a council-manager government....
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, USA. His work in helping to develop the Citizen's Charter
Citizen's Charter
The Citizen's Charter was a British political initiative launched by the then Prime Minister, John Major, on 22 July 1991, less than a year into his premiership.It aimed to improve public services in the UK by:...
led to his appointment to the British Prime Minister John Major's
John Major
Sir John Major, is a British Conservative politician, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1990–1997...
Advisory Panel from 1991 to 1995. He also suggested the short-lived Community Charge
Community Charge
The Community Charge, popularly known as the "poll tax", was a system of taxation introduced in replacement of the rates to part fund local government in Scotland from 1989, and England and Wales from 1990. It provided for a single flat-rate per-capita tax on every adult, at a rate set by the...
, a poll tax.
Dr. Pirie was one of three Scots living in the United States that helped to found the Adam Smith Institute. The Institute is a UK-based think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
that champions the ideas of free market policy. In January 2010 Foreign Policy and the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
named the Adam Smith Institute among the top 10 think tanks in the world outside of the US. The Institute is highly influential in UK public policy, and was "a pioneer of privatisation" in the UK and elsewhere.
Apart from his work within the Adam Smith Institute, Pirie is the author of several books, including the best-selling How to Win Every Argument, Boost Your IQ, Freedom 101 and the Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective created by Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The fantastic London-based "consulting detective", Holmes is famous for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to take almost any disguise, and his use of forensic science skills to solve...
IQ Book. More recently he has authored the book 101 Great Philosophers. He also writes science fiction novels for young adults.
Dr. Pirie appears regularly as a commentator on CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
and BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television, and he is a keen film buff along with regularly participating in rocket launches at Cambridge.
He is also on the Board of Advisers of the UK Liberty League, which describes itself as "a network for freedom-loving groups across the nation".
External links
- Adam Smith Institute
- Madsen Pirie at the Adam Smith Institute
- Madsen Pirie, at DeBretts