The Hidden hand

There is continual reference to a "hidden hand" at work by economists to explain the apparent inexplicable concept of how pricing works. Adam Smith’s originally used the concept of the "hidden hand" to explain of the marketplace.

It has developed into an almost religious jargon for economist. But when you consider it in basic terms it implies that there is a unknown self-regulating power, a God-like force that is controlling the economic system. As an atheist I find this inference repugnant.

Most people do not adopt an Occam's Razor stance to explain things. They are awed by the unknown, and instead of adopting a wait and see or an experimental method to determine cause and effect, it is easier to attribute fanciful imaginings rather than apply real evidence-based explanations.

A cruise control on a car, like any self-regulating system, is run by a simple algorithm or set of instructions of comparing a set point and an actual desired parameter and then sending feedback to an actuator to resolve the difference. Not knowing how this works one might easily say a hidden hand is at work to account for this self-regulation. But a mystery interpretation usually doesn't develop for this because one appreciates that this self-adjusting mechanism was designed by an engineer. 

So why, for evolution, is the algorithm of “survival of the fittest" too difficult for many to appreciate. Why do magical non-evidence explanations persist to explain nature or our own origins. I suppose for some if you're not actually around to see the development of such an algorithm then a "hidden hand" simplification works. A God is created. It's understandable how magical concepts might arise in the past. It's just not easily understood how they persist in a modern world where we can actual see how hidden hands work. Obviously for many, especially those in power, transparency is threat. The Wizard of Oz didn't appreciate his curtain being removed.