Adam Smiths Portrayal of Human Nature

- Yishen Zhou

Before Adam Smith wrote The Wealth of Nations, he was a prominent moral philosophy
professor and wrote The Theory of Moral Sentiments. With this context, what inferences can we
make from the way Adam Smith portrays our selfish nature in The Wealth of Nations?
Our interdependence on each other separates us from other animals, which, according to
Smith, are able to live entirely independent[ly] (Adam Smith, The Wealth of Nations, P14,
1937). Although man has the ability to consciously cooperate with each other, we retain the basic
biological nature of self-love apparent in other animals that ultimately lead to collective gains.
Like animals, by fulfilling our self-interests, we simultaneously benefit those around us. Adam
Smith implies, and I will proceed to argue, that our basal instincts are akin to those of animals
and that they enable us to succeed in life.
Are acts of cooperation more than mere coincidences? By opening the passage with an
anecdote portraying two greyhounds that have the appearance of acting in some sort of
concert, Smith establishes that it is accidental a mere coincidence that these two are
working together, not a meaningful collaboration. His choice of diction appearance, acting,
accidental strengthened by the use of alliteration, hints at the artificial nature of their
cooperation. There is no fair and deliberate exchange, only acts of selfishness that appear to be
a team effort.
Despite the fact that the opening anecdote is an illustration of the self-orientated behavior
of animals, Smith extends a similar image to mankind. He states that help, or service is only
rendered but for their regard to their own interest. Smith also points out the dichotomy
between us and animals; the by-product of our self-interest is our conscious decision to seek
cooperation with others, whereas cooperation between animals is unintended. We work together
with purpose. Whilst animals are characterized to be entirely independent of one another and

Adam Smiths Portrayal of Human Nature

- Yishen Zhou

able to survive on their own, Smiths characterization of man is completely the opposite; we are
extremely dependent on one another: Man has almost constant occasion for the help of his
brethren, and it is in vain for him to expect it from their benevolence only.
Yet according to Smith, both humans and animals try to brownnose to get what they
want; after all, it is a good value to try and get what we want using the least amount of resources
possible. The idea of the animal gaining the favor of those whose service it requires can be
directly transposed to those of humans. It is only during times when we cant obtain what we
want using goodwill and friendship that we turn to exchange.
Whatever our occupation, Smith makes it clear that we are interdependent on each other
to survive. Just like how the greyhounds appear to work in unison to obtain their meal, it takes
three skilled workers to prepare dinner: the butcher, the brewer and the baker his idea of a
constant occasion for the help of his brethren. Helping others is simply a by-product of selflove we feed others to feed ourselves. There is an interdependence between individuals in a
society.
In evaluation, our behaviour is similar to those of animals. We have the same basic traits:
brownnosing, and self-interest. Yet unlike animals, our selfishness gives rise to greatness as we
know how to maximize the value of our collective skills by consciously working together.
Smiths ideas are still apparent today. We climb the corporate ladder by using the arts
of sucking up. We give up our time and skills willingly in exchange for money and other
resources. The market economy relies on profit and self-interest as a leading motive. Yet there
are limits to what self-interest can explain; irrational decisions are commonly made in the
markets and random acts of kindness are seen on the streets. In Adam Smiths own words: How
selfish soever man may be supposed, there are evidently some principles in his nature, which

Adam Smiths Portrayal of Human Nature

- Yishen Zhou

interest him in the fortune of others, and render their happiness necessary to him, though he
derives nothing from it except the pleasure of seeing it. (Adam Smith, The Theory of Moral
Sentiments, I. I. 1, 1790).
References:
-

Smith, Adam. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations. Ed.
Edwin Cannan. New York: Modern Library, 1937

Smith, Adam. The Theory of Moral Sentiments. 1790. Library of Economics and
Liberty. 24 September 2014. http://www.econlib.org/library/Smith/smMS1.html

Coase, R H. Adam Smiths View of Man. University of Chicago, 1976