Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Originalism and We

In the Preamble, the words "union", "common", and "general", refer back to the initial word of the passage--"We".  Now, We is a Unity of a Multiplicity, and, more precisely, of a specific Multiplicity, i. e. a change in personnel produces a different We.  In contrast, in Smith's system, the principle of Unity--the Invisible Hand--is independent of the Egoism of each member, and vice versa. In other words, a Capitalist society is constituted by a multiplicity of Is, unified by an impersonal force, the combination of which is no We.  Accordingly, if an Originalist were so disposed, they might judge unfettered Capitalism to be contrary to the intentions of the Founding Fathers, and, hence, to be un-Constitutional.

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