For Adam Smith, self-interest acts as a driving power to guide men to whatever work society is willing to pay for. However, self-interest is only half the picture. It drives men to action. Something else must prevent the pushing of profit-hungry individuals from holding society up to exorbitant ransom. A community activated by self-interest would be a community of ruthless profiteers. Discuss what mechanism serves as a check on ruthless profiteers attempting to hold society up to ransom. 1 Adam Smith, Heilbroner, Chapter 3: What are the basic pillars of the laws of market in Adam Smith's "The Wealth of Nations" that guide the private interests and passions of people in the direction that is most agreeable to the interests of the whole society? Smith also outlines his outlook on the larger laws that cause society to prosper or decay - the laws of motion of society. Describe these laws of motion in Smith's system.