What Would Jefferson and Madison Make of Musk and Altman?

America’s Founders and Adam Smith knew better than to entrust the future to philosopher-kings

By Jason Riley. Excerpt:

"Theories about the need for a “philosopher king” or “great man” to advance society date back centuries. Intellectual figures from Plato to Machiavelli and Thomas Carlyle emphasized personal traits such as superior wisdom and exceptional moral character in choosing leaders. The idea was to find these extraordinary men, put them in charge, and align policies with their understanding of the common good. Adam Smith, by contrast, argued that free enterprise and the uncoordinated pursuit of individual self-interest would lead to better outcomes for more people. Societies should rely on market forces and voluntary exchange rather than on do-gooders.

March marked the 250th anniversary of Smith’s seminal text, “The Wealth of Nations,” published the same year as the Declaration of Independence. As we reflect on America’s milestone, it’s worth noting that the Founders shared Smith’s skepticism of philosopher-kings and the approach to choosing leaders that today’s AI poohbahs seem to have embraced.

“What the American Constitution established was not simply a particular system but a process for changing systems, practices, and leaders, together with a method of constraining whoever or whatever was ascendent at any give time,” Thomas Sowell wrote in his book on social theory, “The Quest for Cosmic Justice.” “Viewed positively, what the American revolution did was to give the common man a voice, a veto, elbow room and a refuge from the rampaging presumptions of his ‘betters.’ ”"