A question for Adam Smith: Which nation are we?

Adam Smith said that civilized and savage nations are separated by abundance and scantiness.

Savage nations of hunters and fishers “…are so miserably poor that, from mere want, they are frequently reduced, or, at least, think themselves reduced, to the necessity sometimes of directly destroying, and sometimes of abandoning their infants, their old people, and those afflicted with lingering diseases, to perish with hunger, or to be devoured by wild beasts.”

Civilized nations “…on the contrary, though a great number of people do not labour at all, many of whom consume the produce of ten times, frequently of a hundred times more labour than the greater part of those who work; yet the produce of the whole labour of the society is so great that all are often abundantly supplied, and a workman, even of the lowest and poorest order, if he is frugal and industrious, may enjoy a greater share of the necessaries and conveniences of life than it is possible for any savage to acquire.”

Which nation are we?

Adam Smith said that civilized and savage nations are separated by abundance and scantiness.

Unfortunately, this is a false statement. We are a nation blessed with abundance, and yet we have used that abundance to move from the camp of civilization to that of the savage. Saudi Arabia is a nation blessed with tremendous abundance and yet they began as savages and remain savages. The same can be said for the rest of the oil rich Muslim world, and China. Russia, savages under Communism, is slowly returning to its civlized roots. When we say something is "civilized" we are saying in fact that it "has an advanced or humane culture, society, etc." But in fact that definition misses a crucial point: that civilization comes from the Judeo-Christian ethic. If you look around the world at places you wouldn't mind living, this is the philosophical tradition of their societies and their legal system. Human nature is corrupt. Paganism - in all its forms - allows for the full expression of that corruptness. That is what we call savage. There are many on the left today who reject the fundamental importance of Christianity in this world while continuing to enjoy its civilizing benefits. Then, say a liberal Journalist, goes to a place like Egypt to do a story. He or she is beaten to a pulp. Their world view does not allow them to understand what has happened to them because they cannot understand what it is that makes the savage a savage, and what makes the civilized man civilized. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the father except through him.

Unfortunately, this is a false statement.

You are trying to read way too much into his statement. Smith was talking about the material wealth enjoyed by capitalist nations compared to the grinding poverty of the "savages".

In his time that would have included the North American Indians, most Asians and Africans. Nowhere did he ever imply that wealth automatically brought moral enlightenment.

In fact, if you're that interested in Smith's moral theories, I heartily recommend his "Theory of Moral Sentiments". Here's a link to a free online version to get you started.

I think you'll be surprised.

I agree— and your comment reflects what I see in Scripture as well— how time and again in the Scriptures the example is a people hear God and obey,and are blessed by God and become fat and are so blessed they become convinced that it is they —and not God and they turn from God and are corrupted by their wealth. and fall into savagery only to discover a need for the cycle to begin again.Savagery to civility and back to savagery
We do appear to be fast approaching our baser self. but a nation that kills its babies has no future.

As long as we have apathetic liberals who demand the government take care of everyone (ie pass the buck) instead of personally doing something then the former. If we get to a true free society where opportunity abounds and people don’t look externally for solutions to their problems, the latter.

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