Abstract

Roberto Scazzieri

Social Mirrors:  Reasoning and Co-ordination in Context

TMS is of special interest to the economic and social theorist because it provides a rigorous analytical foundation to rational choice beyond stringent individualism. The aim of this paper is to reconstruct Smith’s theory of social reasoning as presented in TMS, and to explore on that basis the foundations of Smith’s theory of social co-ordination. In Smith’s treatment, reasoning by circumscription is the most important route allowing people to identify social mirrors — simplified descriptions of themselves acceptable in the social context. Alternative social mirrors are prima facie associated with alternative coordination criteria but may also be compatible with over-all co-ordination as long as the circumscription of social situations goes along with a propensity to identify increasingly inclusive social domains.