Where does the order and prosperity of human society come from?
Smith may have long possessed crucial clues to unlocking the secrets of human social order and prosperity. However, he was also well aware that his answers would be seen as heretical and unacceptable to society, but at the same time, he had no intention of becoming another Galileo, martyred for the truth.
Author: GUDORDI | 2025-11-25
亞當·史密斯1776年出版的《國富論》，並非是一本教科書，而是一部大論戰中發出的大炮……
Adam Smith published The Wealth of Nations in 1776──not as a textbook, but as a polemical cannon……
──亞當·史密斯學社（Adam Smith Institute）
在上回，筆者提到一個問題，就是為何一個對自己的立論要求這麼嚴謹的亞當·史密斯，會在200多年前對美國的將來作這麼大膽的預測，指出美國「很有可能成為世界有史以來最偉大、最強大的國家之一」。筆者認為有關問題是十分重要，蓋它可能有助我們從一個更深的層次去理解市場力量的泉源和其本質。
Smith 's contribution is unparalleled.
Some scholars have argued that, in terms of the substantial benefits brought to humanity as a whole , Adam Smith ‘s contribution may be the greatest in human history. Others have gone further , pointing out that Smith’s achievements in this area far surpass those of his ” rivals,” perhaps even exceeding the combined contributions of a dozen or more of his successors . At first glance, this may seem exaggerated , but upon closer examination, there is some basis to it. It’s just that Smith himself never encouraged people to think from this perspective, and few subsequent scholars have emphasized viewing Smith’s thought from this angle .
It all began with a debate at the Royal College in London in 1748. That day, Adam Smith, speaking with a thick Scottish accent , put forward a shocking view: the pursuit of self-interest was not a sin, but rather a powerful, unconscious force capable of improving the overall well-being of society. This view immediately provoked a strong reaction from the audience, who considered it utterly heretical. Despite facing widespread criticism, Smith did not back down, continuing to present his views in a soft but firm voice . The debate subsequently ended in discord …
Two books and core issues
Back at his lodgings, Smith continued writing at his desk . Outside lay the bustling and vibrant city of London, while inside , a solitary soul continued to try to explain the origins of order and prosperity Smith published * The Theory of Moral Sentiments* , introducing for the first time the concept of the “ Invisible Hand . ”
Following this, Smith spent another ten years writing ” An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations” ( or simply ” The Wealth of Nations”) in 1776. After publishing ” The Wealth of Nations , ” Smith went back to continuously revise “The Theory of Moral Sentiments.” From this perspective, it seems not an exaggeration to say that Smith’s life revolved around these two works and the question of where the order and prosperity of human society come from.
It’s worth noting that the central ideas of these two works are consistent; *The Wealth of Nations* can be understood as a sequel to *The Theory of Moral Sentiments* . Furthermore , these two works may be subtly connected to the legendary debate at the Royal College of London in 1748. Perhaps we can boldly hypothesize that, as early as his twenties (Smith was born in 1723), Smith already sensed a force beyond his immediate perception in the cosmos, exerting a profound and unnoticed influence on the human psyche and interpersonal interactions. This could be understood as the underlying logic behind human behavior and social order , or what Musk often emphasizes as ” first principles . “
How can we change people's preconceived notions?
If so, Smith might have already grasped crucial clues to unlocking the secrets of human social order and prosperity . However , he was also well aware that his answers would be seen as heretical and unacceptable to society, yet at the same time, he had no intention of becoming another Galileo, martyred for the truth. From this perspective, Smith ‘s life can be understood as an attempt, purely by his own efforts, to change millennia of misunderstandings and blind spots in human thought.
As the opening sentence of this article points out, *The Wealth of Nations* is essentially an intellectual cannon . Importantly, this perspective can lead us to understand Smith’s thought from a higher dimension . As intellectual historian Jerry Muller points out, Smith’s aim was not merely to make people richer, but to make them better—not merely better —off.
The power of compound interest is the source of the market's magical power.
If we understand it from this perspective, what Smith was trying do was a very difficult task, and he did it very carefully , perhaps without directly writing down many of his points . If we carefully read the context of his two bold predictions mentioned above, we will likely agree that both predictions contained an element of unintentional revelation—he didn’t intentionally make such predictions, but according to his understanding, these seemingly bold predictions were actually entirely possible. And one of the key factors behind this magical power is believed to be the compounding effect mentioned in Einstein’s famous quote at the beginning of the text , which we will discuss next time.
