Ludwig Feuerbach and the End of Classical German Philosophy (Ludwig Feuerbach und der Ausgang der klassischen deutschen Philosophie), 1886. But where on the surface accident holds sway, there actually it is always governed by inner, hidden laws, and it is only a matter of discovering these laws. Historical events thus appear on the whole to be likewise governed by chance. The ends of the actions are intended, but the results which actually follow from these actions are not intended or when they do seem to correspond to the end intended, they ultimately have consequences quite other than those intended. Thus the conflicts of innumerable individual wills and individual actions in the domain of history produce a state of affairs entirely analogous to the realm of unconscious nature. ![]() That which is willed happens but rarely in the majority of instances the numerous desired ends cross and conflict with one another, or these ends themselves are from the outset incapable of realization, or the means of attaining them are insufficient. For here, also, on the whole, in spite of the consciously desired aims of all individuals, accident apparently reigns on the surface. ![]() In nature there are only blind, unconscious agencies acting upon one another, In the history of society, on the contrary, the actors are all endowed with consciousness, are men acting with deliberation or passion, working towards definite goals nothing happens without a conscious purpose, without an intended aim. While discerning between the forces that generate changes in nature and those that generate changes in history in his discussion of Ludwig Feuerbach, Friedrich Engels touched on the idea of (apparent) unintended consequences: Influenced by 19th century positivism and Charles Darwin's evolution, for both Friedrich Engels and Karl Marx, the idea of uncertainty and chance in social dynamics (and thus unintended consequences beyond results of perfectly defined laws) was only apparent, since social actions were directed and produced by deliberate intention. "The individual undertaker ( entrepreneur), seeking the most efficient allocation of resources, contributes to overall economic efficiency the merchant’s reaction to price signals helps to ensure that the allocation of resources accurately reflects the structure of consumer preferences and the drive to better our condition contributes to economic growth." Marx and Engels The invisible hand theorem is an example of the unintended consequences of agents acting in their self-interest. The idea was also discussed by Adam Smith, the Scottish Enlightenment, and consequentialism (judging by results). The idea of unintended consequences dates back at least to John Locke who discussed the unintended consequences of interest rate regulation in his letter to Sir John Somers, Member of Parliament.
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