How Long Does Intercourse Last

Of Self-love

is not talking here about a Wikipedian pretentious but the pseudonym of a mysterious notion of economic liberalism.

We know the famous quote from Adam Smith .

Man has almost constant need for help from his fellows, and it is in vain that he would wait for their benevolence only. There will be more likely to succeed if it is for their personal interest and persuades them that if their own benefit their command to do what he wants from them. That's what makes who offers to another any market, the meaning of his proposal is this: Give me what I need, and you'll have me what you need yourself, and most of those good offices which We are so necessary, is obtained in this way. This is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their interests. We address ourselves not to their humanity but to their''self-love'', and it is never our needs as we talk to them, it's always to their advantage.

Smith the Wealth of Nations , Chapter II Of the Principle which gives rise to the division of labor.

This quote is very famous. Notice I left the word "self-love" untranslated. The word is usually rendered as "selfishness". Regrettable.

Selfishness is a vice exclusive property of others while self-love is more worthy, consisting in the search of his property, without excluding any of anyone else. A number of cons-sense from there ... The invisible hand also seems much problem (but it's a metaphor).

What is the self-love . This quote from Hume (another Scot) clearly shows that it is not selfishness:

I esteem the Man Whose self-love, by whatever means clustering, Is So hast directed to Give Him a Concern for Others, and render HIM serviceable to society: as I hate gold despise HIM, Who has no regard to Any Thing Beyond His Own Enjoyment and gratuities.

Hume, An Enquiry Concerning The Principles of Morals , Appendix II: Of Self-Love

And yes. The explanation from the company of men selfish, subject to the passions, except for the vice-Mandeville and it's actually not Smith. For the liberal tradition, the man seeks to realize its interest, which is a good for oneself, but without that interest is necessarily selfish. Altruism, humanity, sympathy are natural human passions. The correct action is part of self-love . The realization of seemingly selfless actions is consistent with the pursuit of personal interest.

Hayek prefers to speak of satisfaction research purposes rather than interest, including more naturally benevolent purposes. I prefer its formalization.