Unintended Consequences – Chosen Aspects: Adam Smith vs Bernard Mandeville

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Unintended Consequences – Chosen Aspects: Adam Smith vs Bernard Mandeville

Journal Title: Ruch Filozoficzny - Year 2016, Vol 72, Issue 4

Abstract

The paper focuses on the chosen aspects of the role of unintended consequences in Adam Smith’s thought, including the issue of the invisible hand. However, without limiting his philosophical considerations the idea of unintended consequences the few instances where he mentions the invisible hand. Individuals when making decisions and undertaking actions are causing the unintended consequences, therefore due to the complexity of human motivations and behaviour it is extremely difficult to foresee other peoples’ behaviour and longterm results. This way unintended consequences play a crucial role in the process of modifying moral and social norms and institutions, in market exchange and development of the societies. Moreover some similarities and discrepancies between Adam Smith’s and Bernard Mandeville’s views on unintended consequences are pointed out. Mandeville notices that the consequences of actions we undertake can frequently differ from what was assumed when planning and criticized the ultimate belief in the power of a human mind.

Authors and Affiliations

Anna Markwart

Keywords

Berkeley on the Relation Between Abstract Ideas and Language in Alciphron VII

The argument against the existence of abstract ideas in the Introduction to the Principles is one of Berkeley’s most famous arguments. His view that all our ideas are particular and that the Lockean process of abstractio...

Waldemar Kmiecikowski, Istnienie. Człowiek. Moralność. Studia z dwudziestowiecznej filozofii polskiej, Oficyna Wydawnicza Fundacji Fuhrmanna, Chojnice 2017, ss. 411

EP ID EP321598
DOI 10.12775/RF.2016.041
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