Economics, Theology, Evolution

A notable, and influential, attempt to ground Capitalism in a larger context begins with the interpretation of the Invisible Hand as an instrument of divine will, often characterized as a variety of 'Protestantism'. Consequently, Economic results are represented as expressions of the pleasure or displeasure of a deity, often corresponding to preceding behavior, i. e. as rewards or punishments. So, the interpretation, previously discussed, of Economic activity as a phase of Adaptation is another chapter in the Religion vs. Evolution conflict. Shared by the two is a rejection of Smith's thesis that the Nation is the primary locus Economics. But, from there they diverge drastically--the subject of the theological interpretation is an individual, while that of the Evolutionist is the species, i. e. in the latter, even the 'survival of the fittest' is attributed to a characteristic, not, as it is popularly conceived more recently, to an individual. So, if the Marxist were to embrace the Evolutionist interpretation, 'society' would have to be conceived as co-extensive with 'species', as the internationalism of the doctrine suggests that it might.