Economy Virtue Politics:Research On Adam Smith’s Theory Of Civil Society

When it comes to civil society theory,people often think of Hegel and Marx’s classical discourse on civil society,but pay less attention to Smith’s civil society theory as their common theoretical background.It is precisely because of the lack of thematic research on Smith’s civil society theory that the description of Smith’s civil society theory usually presents a fragmented theoretical picture,which is mainly manifested in the different degrees of emphasis on the economic dimension,virtuous dimension and political dimension of Smith’s civil society theory,but also the neglect of one and the loss of the other.Therefore,it is extremely important to conduct thematic research on Smith’s civil society theory,which not only helps us better understand the inheritance relationship between Marx and Hegel’s civil society theory,but also helps us to grasp the three dimensions of Smith’s civil society theory integrally.The theory of civil society is the core theme of modern western political philosophy.From the perspective of the “consistency of the three” of economic dimension,virtuous dimension and political dimension,Smith endowed the civil society theory of modern political philosophy with new ideological connotation,time connotation and civilization connotation.The traditional political philosophy before Smith mainly focused on the dual dimensions of politics and virtue.Through the centralized interpretation of the economic dimension,Smith promoted the civil society theory to undergo a “revolution in terminology”.The essence of this revolution was to shift from the construction of the national political system to the study of Social economic operation.Through criticizing mercantilist state interventionism and laissez-faire of physiocracy,Smith looked forward to a natural and free prospect of civil society and economic development.The “natural principle of national wealth growth” composed of “labor value theory” and“ capital accumulation theory” is the concrete manifestation of his civil society and economic development prospect.Not only that,Smith further endowed civil society with a moral basis from the virtuous dimension.The fundamental keynote of his virtue theory is Sentimentalism,the theoretical basis is the theory of sympathy theory,and the core issue is to deduce the formation of civil society order and the economic development of civil society from personal feelings.On this basis,Smith re-understood the state problem in civil society theory from the political dimension.Smith discussed the problem of the separation between the state and civil society,and from the emotionalism route,he gave the state the possibility to lay a moral emotional foundation and a moral foundation for international relations between states.Both economic dimension,virtuous dimension and political dimension are the organic components of Smith’s civil society theory.Only by viewing Smith’s civil society theory from the perspective of “consistency of the three” can we find Smith’s great contribution to the civil society theory of modern political philosophy.Smith not only positively constructed the emerging civil society,but also pointed out the problems and tried to give his own solutions.In The Wealth of Nations,Smith revealed that the commercial society brought freedom to workers,but also produced alienation,and resorted to national education for solutions to problems.The substantial revision of the sixth edition of The Theory of Moral Sentiments painted a lingering shadow on Smith’s optimistic outlook on “the unity of virtue and wealth”in his early years,indicating that Smith was deeply worried about the trend of “the deviation of virtue and wealth” in the commercial society in his later years,and sought to prevent this trend through the supplement and revision of the conscience theory.If Smith believes that civil society has its own ethical self-sufficiency,then Hegel believes that the universality achieved by civil society is only formal universality,and its internal contradiction is insurmountable,that is,the problem of poverty and alienation.The solution to civil society problems can only rely on the national power beyond civil society.However,in Marx’s view,Hegel’s attempt to solve the problems of civil society with a rational country is an act of putting the cart before the horse.The solution to the problems of civil society can only be found in civil society.Smith only saw the formal freedom principle based on the exchange relationship in the civil society,but he did not find the power relationship principle between capital and wage labor in the production field.This power principle is manifested as the confrontation between the proletariat and the bourgeoisie.The solution to the problems of civil society can only be achieved in the movement of the proletariat to liberate itself.The interpretation of Smith’s civil society theory is not only a purely theoretical discussion,but also a demonstration of its practical significance.Marx once pointed out that any real philosophy is the cream of the spirit of the times and the living soul of civilization.In the face of the further construction and improvement of the current new form of Chinese human civilization,it is of great significance to explore the living soul in Smith’s civil society theory from the rich political and philosophical heritage,which is mainly reflected in the moral foundation of the market society,the construction of the rule of law in the market society,and the relationship between the market society and the political state.