Capitalism and Species-Principle

Capitalism is commonly understood as a Hobbesian system--a universal conflict amongst self-interested parties.  However, that image does not conform to Wealth of Nations in three respects.  First, Smith, unlike Hobbes, conceives that conflict as itself a means to the general Good.  Second, his mediating factor, the Invisible Hand, is 'natural', whereas Hobbes' correlate, the Sovereign, must be constructed.  Finally, while Hobbes' Egoism is descriptive, Smith's is normative, which implies that it is preceded by sympathetic feelings which need to be suppressed in specifically an Economic arena.  So, with all these features incorporated into Smith's model, it resembles Rousseau's, with the variation that the privatization of goods is beneficial to the collective well-being.  And, in particular, the underlying Sympathy and the Invisible Hands are each indications of the influence Cof a Species-Principle.