Jinggangshi

The Enlightenment appears in the book as an intellectual context for the belief that commerce could soften social relations. Its role is brief but connects a history of trade and trust to a larger argument about the institutions that make economic cooperation possible.

Commerce and the Enlightenment

The book points to Albert O. Hirschman’s account of the Enlightenment faith that commerce was “sweet.” This idea frames commerce not merely as the exchange of goods, but as a force thought capable of refining and moderating human conduct. The reference is part of a discussion of how trust came to be understood as an important condition of flourishing markets.

From Moral Ideal to Commercial Practice

The surrounding historical account distinguishes belief in commerce’s civilizing effects from the practical development of reliable trade. Earlier systems often relied on trust within particular communities and collective sanctions against dishonest traders. Over time, commercial arrangements increasingly emphasized individual responsibility and dependable commitments. The Enlightenment reference thus sits within a longer history in which moral claims about commerce accompanied, but did not by themselves establish, the trust required for everyday transactions.

Place in the Book’s Argument

The period is invoked through a scholarly reference rather than presented as a sustained historical narrative. Its significance lies in the contrast between commerce as an idealized influence on character and trust as something built through rules, practices, and institutions. The book’s larger account follows that development beyond intellectual belief, showing how confidence in commercial dealings became increasingly institutionalized.