Man between passion and interest: from Hirschman to AGI

This article examines the evolution of economic and political thought through the lens of Albert Hirschman, who viewed the rise of capitalism not as a pursuit of wealth but as a constitutional project aimed at taming human passions. The text leads the reader from 17th-century debates about human nature, through Montesquieu's theory of "doux commerce," to the contemporary challenges posed by the development of artificial intelligence (AGI). The author contrasts historical mechanisms of self-interest with modern economic models, such as the Israeli "start-up nation" and French dirigism. The analysis demonstrates how Adam Smith's anthropological reduction influenced today's understanding of the predictability of contracts and the stability of political systems, raising questions about the future of civic virtue in a world dominated by algorithmic efficiency and economic self-interest.