Essay, Research Paper: Doux-Commerce

SUMMARY: HIRSCHMAN ESSAY
The notion of unhappiness as a result of social order was a modern concept in 18th
century Europe. The poor or those of ill health generally attributed their hardships to the
will of God. It was the forward thinkers of the French Enlightenment who spawned the
idea of a perfectible social order. Self -serving behavior once seen as reprehensible began
to have socially desirable outcomes. In beginning of the 19th century Europe saw a
dramatic change from the age-old feudalistic mores to a market society. Capitalism had
taken hold of the people.
Doux-Commerce
The expansion of the market and commerce would curb “arbitrary and excessive”
power plays of government. Commerce would put social responsibilities on the citizens.
Citizens with their individualistic motivations would become, in fact, more civil.
Relationships between “gentile manners” and commerce were observed by
Montesquieu and became the accepted opinions by popular society in the 18th century.
Capitalism gave every individual a function, a reason to become involved with
commerce. The simple face that every citizen’s goal was to make money was a
civilization agent in itself. Commerce through mutual usefulness made men dependent on
eachother. This dependence modified human behavior and perhaps even human nature.
Frugality, punctuality, honesty, and helpfulness were virtues most enhanced by
commerce.
Self-Destruction
The self-destruction theory is the antithesis to deux-dommerce. The self-
destruction concept states capitalism actually undermines the moral foundation on which
society is standing. The values and morals inherited from the feudalistic society,
according to Hirch, are “eroded” by commerce. The self-interest capitalism promotes is
ultimately destructive to commerce. Self-interest is not generated by moral motivation,
but by greed. Marx and Engles in the Communist Manifesto took the realistic-pessimistic
appraisal of man and concluded all moral traditional values are eventually dissolved by
money.
The logic of self-interest has always been a natural part of survival. The idea of
capitalism taking hold of the people and being seen as a demolishing force corroding all
means of reason and morals has not proved true. However the Frankfurt School of critical
theory composed of European intellectuals proposed commerce “inadvertently” corroded
the moral foundations. In conclusion since capitalism has not yet produced a catastrophic
effect it is probable to conclude human’s self-interest behavior for survival predates
commerce.



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Word Count: 378