---
entity_slug: artificer_planter_transition
evaluator: null
evaluated_at: '2026-02-23T00:34:57.529156'
overall_score: 4.0
scores:
- name: definition_precision
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The definition clearly describes a specific economic behavior pattern
    - skilled craftsmen abandoning their trades for agriculture when they acquire
    capital. The concept is well-bounded and distinct, though it could be slightly
    more precise about the threshold conditions that trigger this transition.
- name: source_grounding
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity is directly grounded in Smith's discussion in Book III, Chapter
    1, where he explicitly describes how artificers in colonies prefer to become planters
    when they can afford land. Smith uses this phenomenon to illustrate the natural
    preference for agricultural independence over manufacturing dependence.
- name: domain_placement
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: '"General Theory" is appropriate as this represents a broader principle
    about human economic preferences and colonial development patterns. However, it
    could arguably fit in a more specific domain like "Colonial Economics" or "Labor
    Allocation" if such categories existed.'
- name: vsm_relevance
  value: 3.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity has moderate VSM relevance, primarily mapping to S4 (intelligence/environmental
    adaptation) as it describes how individuals adapt their economic roles based on
    changing circumstances and opportunities. It also touches on S1 (operations) regarding
    the actual shift in productive activities.
- name: explanatory_value
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The entity provides genuine explanatory power by illuminating why manufacturing
    develops slowly in colonies despite available skilled labor - it reveals an underlying
    preference structure that drives economic behavior. This goes beyond surface description
    to explain a structural economic mechanism.
---

# Evaluation: Artificer Planter Transition

## definition_precision — 4.0 / 5.0

The definition clearly describes a specific economic behavior pattern - skilled craftsmen abandoning their trades for agriculture when they acquire capital. The concept is well-bounded and distinct, though it could be slightly more precise about the threshold conditions that trigger this transition.

## source_grounding — 5.0 / 5.0

This entity is directly grounded in Smith's discussion in Book III, Chapter 1, where he explicitly describes how artificers in colonies prefer to become planters when they can afford land. Smith uses this phenomenon to illustrate the natural preference for agricultural independence over manufacturing dependence.

## domain_placement — 4.0 / 5.0

"General Theory" is appropriate as this represents a broader principle about human economic preferences and colonial development patterns. However, it could arguably fit in a more specific domain like "Colonial Economics" or "Labor Allocation" if such categories existed.

## vsm_relevance — 3.0 / 5.0

This entity has moderate VSM relevance, primarily mapping to S4 (intelligence/environmental adaptation) as it describes how individuals adapt their economic roles based on changing circumstances and opportunities. It also touches on S1 (operations) regarding the actual shift in productive activities.

## explanatory_value — 4.0 / 5.0

The entity provides genuine explanatory power by illuminating why manufacturing develops slowly in colonies despite available skilled labor - it reveals an underlying preference structure that drives economic behavior. This goes beyond surface description to explain a structural economic mechanism.
