"Led by an Invisible Hand"

[MJGreen]

The Freeman posted an essay by Mark Skousen, sharing a neat discovery by Dan Klein and Brandon Lucas concerning Smith’s The Wealth of Nations:

The single expression “led by an invisible hand” occurs almost dead center in the first and second editions of the Wealth of Nations. (It moves slightly away from the middle after an index and other material were added to later editions.)

Moreover, it appears “well-nigh dead centre” in the final edition of The Theory of Moral Sentiments.

…

To think that Adam Smith, the renowned absent-minded professor, hid a little “invisible” secret in his tomes is indeed the ultimate irony. As Klein concludes, “That the phrase appears close to the center, and but once, in TMS and in WN might be taken as evidence that Smith did intend for us to take up the phrase.”

I find Professor Klein’s story compelling and have enjoyed showing copies of Smith’s works with a bookmark in the key passages to students, faculty, and interested friends. It has, in the words of philosopher Robert Nozick, “a certain lovely quality.”

Happy birthday to An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations!

[Phaedros]

It really is a beautiful metaphor whether or not he meant it to be taken up as much as it has.

[ClaytonB]

I’ve read on conspiracy sites people attempting to link the “invisible hand” of AS with the “hidden hand” of Freemasonry. Freaks me out, actually.

http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&q=hidden%20hand&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&biw=992&bih=700

Clayton -