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← People and their mental models

Adam Smith's mental models

2 claims Adam Smith made fit 2 mental models. Most often: Incentives, Emergence. Everything they said here.

Models we see in what they say

Our reading: their claim applies the idea without naming it. The claim is theirs; filing it here is ours.

Incentives

Look at what people are rewarded for; it explains more behaviour than what they say, your own included.

Used by 84 others

We get our dinner from traders by appealing to their self-interest, not to their kindness

  1. Adam Smith Scottish moral philosopher and economist (1723 to 1790) It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest. We address ourselves, not to their humanity, but to their self-love, and never talk to them of our own necessities, but of their advantages. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nationsgutenberg.org · 9 Mar 1776All korrents from this piece
    Their wordsIt is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest. We address ourselves, not to their humanity, but to their self-love, and never talk to them of our own necessities, but of their advantages.

    ↗An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nationsgutenberg.org

    9 Mar 1776

By pursuing their own interest, people frequently serve society better than when they set out to serve it

Mental modelEmergence

  1. Adam Smith Scottish moral philosopher and economist (1723 to 1790) By pursuing his own interest, he frequently promotes that of the society more effectually than when he really intends to promote it. I have never known much good done by those who affected to trade for the public good. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nationsgutenberg.org · 9 Mar 1776All korrents from this piece
    Their wordsBy pursuing his own interest, he frequently promotes that of the society more effectually than when he really intends to promote it. I have never known much good done by those who affected to trade for the public good.

    ↗An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nationsgutenberg.org

    9 Mar 1776

Emergence

Whole systems do things none of their parts do, and nobody has to design that order for it to appear.

Used by 22 others

By pursuing their own interest, people frequently serve society better than when they set out to serve it

Mental modelIncentives

  1. Adam Smith Scottish moral philosopher and economist (1723 to 1790) By pursuing his own interest, he frequently promotes that of the society more effectually than when he really intends to promote it. I have never known much good done by those who affected to trade for the public good. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nationsgutenberg.org · 9 Mar 1776All korrents from this piece
    Their wordsBy pursuing his own interest, he frequently promotes that of the society more effectually than when he really intends to promote it. I have never known much good done by those who affected to trade for the public good.

    ↗An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nationsgutenberg.org

    9 Mar 1776