---
entity_slug: commercial_order_and_government_introduction
evaluator: null
evaluated_at: '2026-02-23T04:59:04.437120'
overall_score: 4.6
scores:
- name: definition_precision
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The definition clearly captures a specific transformative process where
    commerce introduces governmental and social order to previously unstable rural
    areas. While comprehensive, it could be slightly more concise, but it avoids circularity
    and identifies distinct causal mechanisms.
- name: source_grounding
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity is directly grounded in Smith's explicit argument from Book
    III, Chapter 4, where he discusses this as the "most important" yet "least observed"
    effect of commerce. The language closely follows Smith's own characterization
    of this transformative process.
- name: domain_placement
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The "Regulation" domain is perfectly appropriate since this entity describes
    how commerce establishes "regular government" and transforms the regulatory framework
    of society. This is fundamentally about the emergence of institutional governance
    structures.
- name: vsm_relevance
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity maps well to S5 (identity/policy) as it describes the fundamental
    transformation of societal identity and governance structures, and also connects
    to S3 (internal regulation) through the establishment of regular government. It
    represents a clear structural transformation rather than being VSM-neutral.
- name: explanatory_value
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: "This entity illuminates a crucial but subtle mechanism in Smith's theory\u2014\
    how commercial development fundamentally restructures social and political relations\
    \ rather than just economic ones. It explains the deep structural transformation\
    \ that commerce brings to traditional feudal arrangements."
---

# Evaluation: Commercial Order And Government Introduction

## definition_precision — 4.0 / 5.0

The definition clearly captures a specific transformative process where commerce introduces governmental and social order to previously unstable rural areas. While comprehensive, it could be slightly more concise, but it avoids circularity and identifies distinct causal mechanisms.

## source_grounding — 5.0 / 5.0

This entity is directly grounded in Smith's explicit argument from Book III, Chapter 4, where he discusses this as the "most important" yet "least observed" effect of commerce. The language closely follows Smith's own characterization of this transformative process.

## domain_placement — 5.0 / 5.0

The "Regulation" domain is perfectly appropriate since this entity describes how commerce establishes "regular government" and transforms the regulatory framework of society. This is fundamentally about the emergence of institutional governance structures.

## vsm_relevance — 4.0 / 5.0

This entity maps well to S5 (identity/policy) as it describes the fundamental transformation of societal identity and governance structures, and also connects to S3 (internal regulation) through the establishment of regular government. It represents a clear structural transformation rather than being VSM-neutral.

## explanatory_value — 5.0 / 5.0

This entity illuminates a crucial but subtle mechanism in Smith's theory—how commercial development fundamentally restructures social and political relations rather than just economic ones. It explains the deep structural transformation that commerce brings to traditional feudal arrangements.
