Society as Chess: Adam Smith’s Critique to the Man of System
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Abstract
This essay explores Adam Smith's critique to the "man of system." Situating Smith's thought at the center of the Scottish tradition, it contrasts the archetype of a "man of system" with the figure of a Smithian "good legislator", from which a series of principles applicable to contemporary governance are derived. These principles include the necessity of recognizing both cognitive and epistemic limits imposed by the legislative task, the distinction between spontaneous and deliberate orders, and the recognition of the unintended consequences of human action. It is argued that the "Smithian legislator" model holds a deep interest in safeguarding the observance of justice in society, in the application of general rules of behavior, and in a prudent and restrained application of their distributive roles.
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