ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at the ‘invisible hand’ notion and again develops a new taxonomy to interpret the broad hypothesis of positive unintended consequences. Rather than seeking to consider this grand metaphor only in the context of its three explicit usages, this work presents the hypothesis that there is a generic principle of unintended consequences present throughout the corpus. It is used in either a strong or weak sense, but for Smith the positive results of unintended action Smith prevail in his coherence theory of human nature. The ‘invisible hand’ is the grand metaphor he applies to evoke this providentialist purpose operative through unintended consequences of moral action.
This chapter also makes the claim the ‘hand’ is God’s hand and provides support for the providentialist reading of the category. It also includes discussion of some tensions caused by the role of delusion in Smith and the role he gives to the ‘invisible hand’ construct.
