Markt und Staat bei Adam Smith

2010 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Johannes Treu

AbstractThe name of Adam Smith is always associated with the development of the invisible hand, the differentiation of labour and with the foundation of the economic liberalism, so that his book the Wealth of Nation is still in fashion. Based on the criticism of mercantilism system Smith develops his own economic system. Furthermore this economic system is more than pure discretion, it is also instruction which role the market and the state have to fulfil. Smith attributes to the market his famous role, the free function of the price system. Whereas the function of the state is limited to three tasks and no intervention into the market or price process are allowed.

Author(s):  
Carlos Kohn W.

I criticize the liberal foundations of democracy on two counts: (1) the impossible defense of a "neutral" model of the state; and (2) the individualist foundation of its moral and political philosophy. I suggest as well that political liberalism reduces the emancipatory chances of the democratic project by pursuing the goal of Hobbes. Leviathan-that is, by seeking to establish a well-ordered society that endorses an overlapping consensus favoring the ruling classes. The guiding dictum of the "demoliberal" theory seems to be-to paraphrase Adam Smith and Hegel-the invisible hand which regulates the market is the cunning reason of democracy, or, the key of its governability. Are we approaching the end of history as longed for by Fukuyama? I will analyze the premises which sustain his thesis.


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