ABSTRACT
What is striking about Chapter II of Book I of the Wealth of Nations is that the format and content of the argument are very similar to (say) arguments presented by David Hume in both the Treatise and the Inquiry. Start with human nature; link human nature to all aspects of human behavior; compare, using examples, human nature to animal nature, looking at similarities and differences, and reach conclusions about human relations and human institutions. With respect to Hume’s work, his conclusions concern property, justice and morality. With respect to Smith’s second chapter the conclusions relate to the respective role of benevolence and self-interest, contracts, class structure, genius and the impact of the division of labor. So in exploring the implications of the human propensity to “truck, barter and exchange,” is it possible to look at processes in the text to reach conclusions about Smith’s writing as a combination of the familiar and new? Can we look at the product and reach conclusions about the writing process? Can we, in any sense, watch Smith writing?
