Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations - The Natural Order is Driven by Man

Adam smiths The Wealth of Nations - The Natural Order is Driven by Mans Self- vex Adam Smiths The Wealth of Nations argues for a musical arrangement of political economy that separates economy the creation and distribution of wealth from g overnmental interference. In Smiths view, the economy of a nation grows as a direct consequence of private business ventures in the interest of each individual owner. Regulation by the government hurts the economy, and the progress of union is derived from the flow of the market. Things should be left in their inborn states, thus maintaining a natural order of society. The basis of Smiths thesis is that this natural order is driven by Mans self-interest. Smith presents the rootage and arguably most important aspect of social organization base upon self-interest as the division of labor. He asserts that the division of labor occurs naturally in society as the consequence of a certain tendency in human nature the propensity to truc k, barter, and exchange one issue for another (21). This propensity arises from mans almost constant amour for the help of his brethren, (21) an idea illustrated by the fact that in both Smiths and modern times, the number of truly self-sufficient individuals are few. This trucking disposition gives occasion to the division of labor, and Smith makes the example of a hunter who, in trading arrows with others, can acquire whatever he involve and result be encouraged to apply himself to a particular occupation, and to aim and bring to perfection whatever talent he may accept for that business (23). At this point, Smith is making an assumption that men will always choose to do something that will provide them with to a greater extent over some... ...der a man who donates to a charity. On the one hand, economically he gains nothing from this action, and this action does not contribute to his private opulence, defined by Smith as originally derived from the uniform, constant an d uninterrupted effort of every man to better his condition (205). On the other hand, a more cynical individual might say that the giver gains some cast of metaphysical or subjective return from this action that contributes to his self-interest. Smith seems to stomach little faith in the natural goodness of Man, writing it is in vain for one man to expect help from other mens benevolence only (22). This pessimistic stand Smith holds might explain what leads him to see self-interest as the firsthand factor in the actions of humanity.BibliographySmith, Adam. The Wealth of Nations. Amherst Prometheus Books, 1991 (1776)