Klein connects Smith's idea that people gradually come to the impartial spectator's view over time to Kirzner's theory of entrepreneurial alertness—that people tend to notice what it is in their interest to notice—implying that just as Robinson Crusoe comes to notice he could make a net, people have an interest in coming to the more impartial view of their own life.
factualpending
Speaker
Dan KleinEvidence Quote
“people come tend to notice what it is in their interest to notice. And so this if you create a parallel here to Kirzner, it's like kind of implying that people have an interest to come to the more impartial view of their life.”
Source
Dan Klein on The Theory of Moral Sentiments, Episode 4--A Discussion of Part III 04/29/2009— EconTalkCreated: 6/15/2026, 9:36:51 AM
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