The concept of superiority that Smith raises in Chapter One of Book V of Volume Two is one that is crucial and constantly growing and morphing in society. He speaks of four causes of subordination, each having its own qualification and reasoning. The four are as follows: personal qualification, age, fortune, and of birth. Reading the text, it was impossible to deny the ever present and somewhat dooming reality that these causes are still present in modern day society.
Each of these causes has been present since the dawn of “modern society,” with personal qualification being even prior. Looking at them as a whole, it is impossible to deny their presence in today’s world, let alone in Smith’s. Particularly in the realm of “birth right,” Smith’s world is at first seemingly far more applicable, but upon taking a closer look, it is still a driving force in much of today’s society.
It’s almost jarring at how these four qualities, three of which are seemingly out of our control, more or less control every social standing that a person can have. Only personal qualification can truly be altered, but even then, to what degree it can be changed is in question. It’s incredibly intriguing but also terrifying that even if one wishes to change his place in the world that it is almost impossible. The concept of “rags to riches” seems to be a fairy tale in and of itself, let alone with these causes of subordination that Smith lays out creating hurdles that seem to be impossible to tackle. Is it possible for anyone to overcome this obstacles? Was it ever? Will it ever be?
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