The Theory of Moral Sentiments

By: Adam Smith

Narrated by: Michael Lunts

‘How selfish soever man may be supposed, there are evidently some principles in his nature, which interest him in the fortune of others, and render their happiness necessary to him, though he derives nothing from it except the pleasure of seeing it.’

So begins The Theory of Moral Sentiments (1759), the first major text by Adam Smith, who, seven years later, was to publish what was to become one of the major economic classics, The Wealth of Nations (1776). However, Smith regarded The Theory of Moral Sentiments as his most important work because in it he identified the profound human instinct to act not necessarily in self-interest but through, as he phrased it, a ‘mutual sympathy of sentiments’.

The work is divided into seven parts, starting with Part 1: Of the Propriety of Action, in which Smith proposes the idea that ‘Sympathy’ can underlie human actions towards others, prompted by various emotions, be it perception of misfortune in others or simply ‘the pleasure of mutual sympathy’. Other parts include ‘Of the Effect of Utility upon the Sentiment of Approbation’, ‘Of the Character of Virtue’ and finally ‘Of Systems of Moral Philosophy’.

In this concluding section, Smith considers the views of other philosophers, including Epicurus, Zeno, Plato, Aristotle, Cicero and Hobbes, as well as the opinions of his mentor, Dr Francis Hutchison, an important influence. In short, Smith proposes that man’s sense of morality is interwoven with social instincts as much as reason or self-interest. Sympathy - the contemporary word we would use is empathy - is a universal and strongly held emotion in mankind, he says, imbued with virtue, prudence, justice and beneficence. The Theory of Moral Sentiments was, and remains, a milestone in Western philosophy.

Public Domain (P)2018 Ukemi Productions Ltd

Great for aspiring philosophers

Smith touches on issues of psychology and ethics that are rarely understood and yet he does so learnedly and with uplam. Highly recommended!!!

A Wonderful Description of Human Nature

Adam Smith’s Theory of Moral Sentiments is a magnificent description of human nature and an eloquent explanation of virtue and vice, and what is natural and unnatural. It is one of the best books ever written; how unfortunate it is not more widely read and studied.

Good Reading

Adam Smith is naive, antiquated, and an Englishman with an inflated sense of moral superiority over native peoples, perhaps the ethnocentric justifications of a colonizing citizen.

But the reading is good. This is a look at morality before even Freud incorrectly tried to unravel the mind and far before modern science dispatched with the will. The benefit here is to listen to some of the best 18th century rhetorical and unscientific musings about what we would call sociology and behavioral psychology. The medicine of the time still used blood letting, so one can’t judge too harshly. However, the real sentiment is that of “why do 18th century British feel they are superior?” And in that, the ideas are amusingly childish, but insightful.

time for a long read?

Very long tome, sometimes rambling and hard to follow. but it gives a thorough examination of behavior through the eyes of the time

Stands the test of time as an excellent inquiry into the human conscience

It’s a shame so few will ever read this book. It’s a great antidote to pseudo-intellectual psycho babel regarding morality. It’s expansive, methodical, and unique, though a little unapproachable. Read at once!