Adam Smith and the Reasoning Behind his Thoughts on the...

The power of reasoning allows limitless inquiry into the nature of all things. Adam Smith an â€Å"enlightened† thinker utilizes reasoning to examine the wealth of nations, but in acting on this reasoning is he forcing his own sentiments into his argument, or is the reasoning creating the sentiments? Smith offers an exposition for his vision of a laissez faire economy, that is, capitalism in the modern sense. In a wider scope, Smiths account reveals his views on the nature of the human condition, and not a single theme is surveyed without an observation being made upon human tendencies and decisions. Arguably, these observations are shaped by his own sentiments. Smith makes about three claims about human nature. Primarily, Smith assumes†¦show more content†¦More so Smith is suggesting that human reason is the catalyst for trade. The ability to reason is the singular factor that allows for the development of a free market system. The divisions of labor must be controlled by a rational actor; such notions are arguably the mechanisms’ of â€Å"self love† acts as an actor which drives the capitalist machinery. The example of the pin maker illustrates this point. Lastly, Smith instills â€Å"a certain propensity in human nature; the propensity to truck, barter, and exchange one thing for another.† This, he suggests, may simply be an extension of reason. It is this final, and most specific, penchant of human nature that ensures a vague sense of self interest, coupled with reason and speech; produce a very particular kind of capitalist economic system, which he describes in the rest of the book. In speaking about labor, Smith characterizes it in a negative light. He observes the division of labor as positive to production and competition, but in the social sense sees it as a dummying of the masses. â€Å"The man whose whole life is spent in performing a few simple operations†¦ has no oc casion to exert his understanding, or to exercise his invention in finding out expedients for removing difficulties which never occur. He naturallyShow MoreRelatedNewtons Influences Of Isaac Newton And John Locke And The Scientific Revolution763 Words   |  4 Pagesintolerance is justified. Adam Smith applied another way of thinking to the science of economics. All four of these philosophes played important roles in the concepts brought about from the Enlightenment. Isaac Newton was not a part of the Enlightenment, but the concepts he introduced during the Scientific Revolution had a large influence on the ideas developed during the Enlightenment. Newton’s work consisted of mathematical theories explaining how the universe works. 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