Adam Quote by Noam Chomsky
“Adam Smith is an egalitarian, he believed in equality of outcome, not opportunity. He is an enlightenment figure, pre-capitalist. He says, suppose in England, one landowner got most of the land and other people would have nothing to live on. He says it wouldn't matter much, because the rich land owner, by virtue of his sympathy for other people would distribute resources among them, so that by an invisible hand, we would end up with a pretty egalitarian society. That is his conception of human nature.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Wealth of Nations, 1776
Smith argued that self‑interest guided by sympathy could lead to a fair distribution without deliberate planning.
In simple terms: Self‑interest plus sympathy can create fairness.
Key Takeaway
Consider how personal motives affect social outcomes.
Themes
economics
philosophy
equality
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
theoretical
philosophical
When to use this quote
- policy design
- social welfare
- market regulation
Key Concepts
invisible hand
sympathy
distribution
human nature
Questions to Reflect On
- Can markets truly self‑regulate fairness?
- What role does government play?
A Different Perspective
His view ignores power imbalances and exploitation.
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