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Adam Smith

A. L. Macfie

The Theory of Moral Sentiments Paperback – December 17, 2011

by Adam Smith (Author)

611 ratings

Part of: Cambridge Texts in the History of Philosophy (77 books)

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Man’s moral nature is influenced by sentiment and sympathy. The human ability to sympathize forms the psychological basis of man’s desire to adhere to natural moral laws. Adam Smith explores ideas about individual freedom and self-interest, conscience and virtue, and a classic work of moral philosophy that remains relevant.

Print length

312 pages
Language

English
Publication date

December 17, 2011
Dimensions

8 x 0.71 x 10 inches
ISBN-10

7510029066
ISBN-13

978-1619491281
Lexile measure

1570L
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About the Author

Adam Smith was born in Scotland, in 1723, and received his early education at the local burgh school. He subsequently attended Glasgow University (1737-1740), and Balliol College, Oxford (1740-1746). Two years after his return to Scotland, Smith moved to Edinburgh, where he delivered lectures on Rhetoric. In 1751 Smith was appointed Professor of Logic at Glasgow, but was translated to chair of Moral Philosophy in 1752. The Theory of Moral Sentiments was published in 1759, and The Wealth of Nations in 1776, the same year as the Declaration of Independence. Amartya Sen is a Nobel Prize-winning economist, known for his work on the way economics affects the well-being of humans. Formerly the Master of Trinity College, Cambridge, Sen is now Lamont University Professor at Harvard University, and divides his time between Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Cambridge, England. His books include Development as Freedom, Identity and Violence, and The Idea of Justice. Ryan Patrick Hanley is the author of Adam Smith and the Character of Virtue. An assistant professor of political science at Marquette University, he has been the recipient of fellowships from the Mellon Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 1619491281
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Empire Books; 0 edition (December 17, 2011)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 312 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 7510029066
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1619491281
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 1570L
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.38 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8 x 0.71 x 10 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,905,937 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #2,786 in Philosophy History & Survey
- #4,137 in Economic History (Books)
- #7,650 in Philosophy of Ethics & Morality

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611 ratings

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Adam Smith
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Adam Smith (16 June 1723 NS (5 June 1723 OS) – 17 July 1790) was a Scottish moral philosopher, pioneer of political economy, and a key figure in the Scottish Enlightenment.
Smith is best known for two classic works: The Theory of Moral Sentiments (1759), and An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations (1776). The latter, usually abbreviated as The Wealth of Nations, is considered his magnum opus and the first modern work of economics. Smith is cited as the father of modern economics and is still among the most influential thinkers in the field of economics today.
Smith studied social philosophy at the University of Glasgow and at Balliol College, Oxford, where he was one of the first students to benefit from scholarships set up by fellow Scot, John Snell. After graduating, he delivered a successful series of public lectures at Edinburgh, leading him to collaborate with David Hume during the Scottish Enlightenment. Smith obtained a professorship at Glasgow teaching moral philosophy, and during this time he wrote and published The Theory of Moral Sentiments. In his later life, he took a tutoring position that allowed him to travel throughout Europe, where he met other intellectual leaders of his day.
Smith laid the foundations of classical free market economic theory. The Wealth of Nations was a precursor to the modern academic discipline of economics. In this and other works, he expounded upon how rational self-interest and competition can lead to economic prosperity. Smith was controversial in his own day and his general approach and writing style were often satirised by Tory writers in the moralising tradition of William Hogarth and Jonathan Swift. In 2005, The Wealth of Nations was named among the 100 Best Scottish Books of all time. The minor planet 12838 Adamsmith was named in his memory.
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A. L. Macfie
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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5

611 global ratings

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Asko Korpela

Excellent book with improved Kindle

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 28, 2016

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There are two aspects in this review. One is about the book and the other about Amazon's contribution to the Revolution in Reading.
First of all the book. I am reading Adam Smith's The Theory of Moral Sentiments the second time and the second time preparing my MyeBooks notes on it. It will be interesting to compare those two in my system of no less than the Revolution in Learning. As professor of economics I have also read Adam Smith's even more famous book The Wealth of Nations, even if half a century later than I should have. His easily recognizable very personal way of writing and suffocating the reader with, least to say, proliferous zunami of detailed text is at the same time entertaining and really suffocating. But also completely convincing. They say about some political leaders that they have the Nile or an Amazon of thoughts. Adam Smith, too. He would deserve of being a big political boss. As he in reality also is. The best economic policy is conducted on the basis of his still valid thoughts on economics, which in turn are based on his Theory of Moral Sentiments presented in this book. No need, and no competence to go into the mydiad of details here. Overwhelming.
Secondly, some words about my first experience with Amazon's new improvements of Kindle. During the five years I have been using Kindle, it has changed, improved a lot. Many times I have had the feeling that Amazon has taken into account the suggestions I have made in my feedback. Perhaps, perhaps not needed, because they have been so obvious that anybody could have requested them and Amazon's skilled programmers could have worked on their own.
Two big improvements I see first time in this book. I do not know the proper term, but name it the 'surrounded screen'. And the X-ray property. By introducing the ingenious toggling between full screen and surrounded screen has brought to the ebook one of the still missing properties of paper book: 'leafing around'. Making the reading a cosy event. I would say that I alternate big screen and surrounded about half and half of the time. It is astonishing that the surrounded can really be read without trouble although it is given with remarkably smaller font. l use the surrounded for speedy reading, seem to grasp the whole screen with one glance, somehow picking the beef quicly, or use surrounded for speeding uninteresting spots of text.
The X-ray property is an excellent supplement for constant looking up in Wiki. An improvement to lookups, because there are summaries of several lookups and sorted list of persons, events etc. But Amazon could easily take a couple of further cock steps forwards. Google maps could be provided in connection to place names. With the fine properties of measuring distance, showing road and giving prepared information in pictures and summaries.
But then there is not but a cock step, but a big leap to be made by Amazon to make Kindle another Revolution of Learning. Not just looking up words in dictionaries but also saving for future needs and memorizing the word definitions just as I have made in MyeBooks. [...]
Five stars without any hesitation.

17 people found this helpful

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A Brief Preface to the Theory of Moral Sentiments

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 24, 2021

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The Theory of Moral Sentiments is read far less often than the The Wealth of Nations. After reading it I can see why. It’s a difficult text; not only full of tangents, it surveys different topics in ethics non-systemically. It’s even difficult to fully suss out the core of what Smith holds about morality.

As I see it, Moral Sentiments is the natural complement to Smith’s more noted work. While the Wealth of Nations traces the flow of labor, capital and wealth through the nascent market economy, Moral Sentiments describes the virtues, vices, character and necessary behavior of mankind in the newly founded state of freedom.

Just as the workings of the market economy needed a fresh treatment from the feudal understandings of the Middle Ages, so newly democratic man, endowed with certain capabilities by nature, needed a guide beyond the God/sin motifs of the Middle Ages.

At least that is how I read the overall goal of the Theory of Moral Sentiments. A foundational text in the Enlightenment school of Locke, Hobbes and Hume. Written with only the benefit of a classical education and the anthropology of indigenous peoples, Smith may not have said the last word on ethics, but it’s hard to imagine modernity without it. Highly recommended to all interested in the history of Western civilization.

13 people found this helpful

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Lim Kok Ching

Nature of Sympathy

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 24, 2007

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There is no doubt Adam Smith is one of the greatest minds in history and this book embodies his insights on human nature. He did a theoretical review of ancient perspectives on moral theories, followed by his comments on each of the different schools of thoughts. It is always enjoyable to see how he explains and refutes on the fallacies of those thinkings, and in the process offers refined versions to the original.

Though several examples of his brilliance have been mentioned by other comments, two uncited instances/traits of this book are probably worth mentioning:

1.) His insights on the system of sympathy. His analysis on sympathy is about as clear and concise as one could get, and is definitely enlightening to those not well learnt in moral philosophy. Symphathy, accordingly, is the basis for much of human emotions, and he argued forcefully on how the system of sympathy works in shaping our bahaviors and emotions, and how sympathy works differently when perceived situations changed. However, his usage of the word `sympathy' seems to cover the domain of both `compassion' and `sympathy' in normal man's vocabulary, indirectly suggesting that both are actually the same sentiment but differed because of different standpoints. Though so, one of his greatest contributions to moral philosophy is in the construction of this descriptive system of sympathy.

2.) His ability to strip twisted logics into manageable pieces and reconstruct them into good logic. For example, he explained that the doctrine of Bernard Mandeville, who "by means of this sophistry that he establishes his favorite conclusion, that private vice is public benefits." It is obvious from Adam Smith's point of view that private vice is not equal to public benefit, but because of the sophistication of the logical deduction involved, the less skillful or diligent minded people will fall prey to it. A quote from Part VI Section VII "These, described and exaggerated by the lively and humorous, though coarse and rustic eloquence of Dr Mandeville, have thrown upon his doctrines an air of truth and probability which is very apt to impose upon the unskillful."

Anyway, there's lots of wisdom in this book, so read it slowly and only when you could focus your attention on it. There are some who find this book too long, but frankly it is not. Every sentence makes a point.

Lastly, a favorite quote for your enjoyment:

"Though none but the weakest and most worthless of mankind are much delighted with false glory, yet, by a strange inconsistency, false ignominy is often capable of mortifying those who appear the most resolute and determined."

16 people found this helpful

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Lark

Master piece of pure eloquence

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on April 18, 2016

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What an excellent example of eloquent writing this book is, besides its suppositions and content this book is just a complete and utter pleasure to read for anyone who truly appreciates a good wordsmith and Smith really is one.

From the opening chapters which describe his theory that via the medium of imagination individuals do comprehend others being, enjoy mutual sympathies etc. through all the chapters introducing ideas or thought experiments much appreciated by later liberals and philosophers such as the impartial observer, ideas about character, deep praise of stoicism, detachment and fortune to its finish I enjoyed all of this and would highly recommend it.

I have not read the wealth of nations to know how it compliments the more famous work but regret that this is not more well known, my favourite chapters include those upon beauty and utility, while he does not mention utilitarian philosophers directly he does heap praise upon the philosophy and considers things beautiful which have the quality of utility. There are some great reflections in this part of the book about wealth and fortune and why those without envy those with means but also the ill fated destiny of many who suddenly, or even through hard graft and time, discover to themselves some means, with increased means the demands for further increased means being a big factor. Some of the musings about the accumulation of possessions, using examples of "tweezer boxes" or novelty trinkets of the time which sound something like swiss army knives,are pretty perennial (along with many others besides) and like later day criticisms of consumerism, hoarding types and Erich Fromm's "To Have or To Be?" idea, although only a footnote to other ideas and therefore a lot shorter.

Overall this book impressed upon me someone with a great love of humanity, of a certain sort of literary humanism, without magnifying what it is to be human and experience the human condition to the point were it eclipses all else but a happy, humble, appreciative and reflective mode of being. Smith thought carefully, reflected a lot and enjoyed writing about it in a manner which allows the reader to enter into his experience readily and relate to it easily. Of this I am certain that reading this really enriched my life, understanding and thinking. Recommended.

9 people found this helpful

McManus

Beyond ordinary praise

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on November 24, 2018

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The introduction as well as the book itself are both excellent and essential reading for anyone wanting to combat that ugly interpretations that have been pushed on Smith as the apostle of selfishness. Nothing could be further from the truth for this man who would have excoriated the thieves and swindlers of 2008 and held the institute that purports to honour his name in contempt. As readable as Tom Jones, published around the same time. A delight on every page.

3 people found this helpful

Raazi Karim

Difficult read but full of wisdom

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on December 2, 2021

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Book to be read and reread over a long period of time. Full of wisdom, that can't be consumed all at once in one sitting.

2 people found this helpful

G Pelloni

It is indispensable reading for anybody who would like to understand Adam Smith's "Wealth of Nations" and the ...

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on July 30, 2015

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The TMS is one of the masterpieces of modern Political Sciences ( and of Moral Philosophy). It is indispensable reading for anybody who would like to understand Adam Smith's "Wealth of Nations" and the proper roots of modern capitalism. The Galsgow Edition is mandatory. The Introduction by D.D. Raphael and AL. Macfie is splendid and an example of profound and solid scholarship.

One person found this helpful

Mr. C. L. Newman

Moral Sentiments

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on August 17, 2013

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Like few others both before or after him, Adam Smith stands out as a writer of both practical common sense and more philosophical and thought provoking argument and judgement.

Some ideas and views are never good for any time; few stand the test of time. Adam Smith's both stand as good - and pass the test - possibly for all time.

6 people found this helpful

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