Evolution, Virtues, Rewards, Philia and Beyond

Abstract

By way of a conclusion we shall propose an interpretation of the analytical elements that have characterized our journey and, at the same time, we shall compare the system of Civil Economy with Smith’s system of Political Economy. We have seen that Smith and the Scottish Enlightenment thinkers entertained their own anti-feudal polemic; but Smith also thought that the market mechanism would introduce a structure of incentives enabling the market to consolidate through evolution. The view held by Genovesi and Dragonetti was similar in that they did not perceive a conflict between virtue and self-interest. However, whereas Smith regarded the individual pursuit of self-interest as directly virtuous and capable of giving rise to the common good, even if unintentionally, for the authors of Civil Economy it’s the very search for common good that is virtuous — though no contradiction is assumed between private interest and the common good.

The greatest of these is love.

Paul, Corinthians 1, 13