Specialties

          Throughout the excerpt, Adam Smith pointed out that those who had specialties or talents benefit more than if they tried do something else. He continued and stated that if they continued with their abilities, the rest of their community will benefit from their abilities. This was similar to the economics side of capitalism, which is that everyone works to make themselves a living, and the more you work, the more you get. In this type of economy, people will often play to their strengths and work in jobs that involve their talents more often than their weaknesses.
One example he described was:
     "In a tribe of hunters or shepherds a particular person makes bows and arrows, for example, with more readiness and dexterity than any other. He frequently exchanges them for cattle or for venison with his companions, and he finds at last that he can in this manner get more cattle and venison than if he himself went to the field to catch them. From a regard to his own interest, therefore, the making of bows and arrows grows to be his chief business, and he becomes a sort of armorer." (Smith 71)
     This described the process when a person is separated from the rest because of an unique talent that increased their value. An example in our lives is like how Megan excels at writing and takes good notes. She also has good work ethics and writes quickly. She aspires to be a reporter, and these skills will make her invaluable in the press.
Another example he presented was:
     "Many tribes of animals acknowledged to be all of the same species, derive from nature a much more remarkable distinction of genius than what, antecedent to custom and education, appears to take place among men. By nature a philosopher is not in genius and disposition half so different from a street porter, as a mastiff is from a greyhound. or a greyhound is from a spaniel, or this last from a shepherd's dog. Those different tribes of animals, however, though all of the same species, are of scarce any use to one another. the strength of the mastiff is not in the least supported either by the swiftness of the greyhound, or by the sagacity of the spaniel, or by the docility of the shepherd's dog. the effects of those different geniuses and talents, for want of the power of disposition to barter and exchange, cannot be brought into a common stock, and do not in the least contribute to the better accommodation and conveniency of the species."
     This is just reinforcing that those who play to their strengths benefit more than others. Hopefully writing a good blog is one of my strengths! See you all on Wednesday!