比较视域中亚当·斯密的经济情操

On the Economic Sentiment of Adam Smith from a Comparative Perspective

在西方主流经济学的语境中,亚当·斯密的理论是自由市场原教旨主义,其中不存在经济情操性内容。实际上,亚当·斯密的理论中蕴涵着极为丰富的经济情操性内容,撮其要者如下:同情他人同样是人之本性;个人追逐私利既恰当又正确,但必须受到极为严格的条件性约束;私利追逐带来的效用远不如改进增加效用的手段更重要;个人追逐私利以惠及他人和社会为前提;对地主和资本家持激烈批判态度,对劳动者怀有一以贯之的深切同情。梳理、分析和比较后的结论是,亚当·斯密的理论中不仅客观地存在经济情操性内容,而且内容具有全面性,经济情操是亚当·斯密经济理论的内生变量,发挥着灵魂性的作用。

In the context of Western mainstream economics, theories of Adam Smith are thought to be the free-market fundamentalism, among which there is no content of economic sentiment. In fact, the viewpoint results from distortion, mutilation, and academicalization. In theories of Adam Smith, the contents of economic sentiment are greatly abundant, the main ideas of which can be summarized as follows： sympathizing others is also human nature; individual pursuit of personal interests is appro- priate and correct, but it must be constrained by rigid conditions; the utility brought about by pursu- ing personal interests is far less important than the means to improve utility enhancement; pursuing personal interests is presupposed by the purpose for benefiting others; a fierce critical attitude is held towards landlords and capitalists, and a deep sympathy is consistently cherished towards workers. A logical conclusion, drawn after carding, analysis and comparison, indicates that in theories of Adam Smith, economic sentiment contents not only exist objectively, hut also in a comprehensive way. Economic sentiment, as an endogenous variable in theories of Adam Smith, plays a crucial role.