Adam Smith, in his book "The Wealth of Nations," sought to explain the concept of aligning self-interest with the promotion of society's overall interest through the concept of the invisible hand. According to Smith, individuals pursuing their own self-interest in a free market economy would unintentionally promote the good of society as a whole because their actions would lead to the efficient allocation of resources and the production of goods and services that people demand.
Smith argued that if individuals were allowed to pursue their own self-interest without interference, they would naturally seek to maximize their own profits and wealth. In doing so, they would be motivated to produce goods and services that are in demand by consumers, and to do so in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible. This would lead to the creation of wealth for individuals and society as a whole.
Smith's concept of the invisible hand suggests that the pursuit of individual self-interest can be harnessed for the greater good of society, as long as there is a free market and minimal government intervention. This concept has been influential in the development of modern capitalist economic theory.