In his essay "Adam Smith's View of Man", Ronald Coase discusses the China passage from Theory of Moral Sentiments. He observes that:
"The quotation clearly can be used, rightly in my view, as an illustration of the strength of self-interest in determining human behaviour. ... It is not the love of mankind which makes the 'man of humanity' willing to make this sacrifice, but that he sees himself through the eyes of an impartial spectator. ... love for the dignity and superiority of his own character ... if he had to face such a choice, would lead the man of humanity to sacrifice his little finger."
In your essay, use Coase's observation and the China example to analyze the connection of some of Smith's most important ideas:
- The impartial spectator
- The institutions that enable civil society and how/why they do so
- The connection of these ideas from TMS to the most important of Smith's arguments in Wealth of Nations