WeRead Powered by ReaderPub
The Theory of Moral Sentiments / Or, an Essay Towards an Analysis of the Principles by Which Men Naturally Judge Concerning the Conduct and Character, First of Their Neighbours, and Afterwards of Themselves. to Which Is Added, a Dissertation on the Origin of Languages. cover

The Theory of Moral Sentiments / Or, an Essay Towards an Analysis of the Principles by Which Men Naturally Judge Concerning the Conduct and Character, First of Their Neighbours, and Afterwards of Themselves. to Which Is Added, a Dissertation on the Origin of Languages.

Chapter 1: THE THEORY OF MORAL SENTIMENTS; OR, AN ESSAY TOWARDS An Analysis of the Principles by which Men naturally judge concerning the Conduct and Character, first of their Neighbours, and afterwards of THEMSELVES. TO WHICH IS ADDED, A DISSERTATION ON THE ORIGIN OF LANGUAGES.
By Adam Smith
Open in WeRead

Explore more books like this:

Philosophy & Ethics

About This Book

The work argues that moral judgments arise from human sympathy, which enables people to imagine others' feelings and to assess the propriety of actions. It analyzes how approbation and disapprobation create notions of merit and demerit, linking praise to gratitude and blame to resentment. An impartial spectator functions as an internal standard mediating self‑judgment and social evaluation. The author differentiates amiable and respectable virtues and classifies passions as bodily, imaginative, unsocial, social, and selfish, showing how they shape moral appraisal. Chapters examine how prosperity, adversity, and fortune alter public approval and how justice and beneficence become objects of reward and punishment. An appended dissertation considers the origin of language.

The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Theory of Moral Sentiments

This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook.

Title: The Theory of Moral Sentiments

Author: Adam Smith

Release date: February 9, 2022 [eBook #67363]
Most recently updated: October 18, 2024

Language: English

Original publication: Ireland: J. Beatty and C. Jackson, 1777

Credits: Richard Tonsing and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)

*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE THEORY OF MORAL SENTIMENTS ***

Transcriber’s Note:

The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.

THE
THEORY
OF
MORAL SENTIMENTS;
OR,
AN ESSAY
TOWARDS
An Analysis of the Principles by which Men naturally judge concerning the Conduct and Character, first of their Neighbours, and afterwards of THEMSELVES.
TO WHICH IS ADDED,
A DISSERTATION
ON THE
ORIGIN OF LANGUAGES.

By ADAM SMITH, L.L.D. F.R.S.
Formerly Professor of Philosophy in the University of Glasgow; and Author of the Nature and Cause of the Wealth of Nations.
THE SIXTH EDITION.
DUBLIN:
Printed for J. Beatty and C. Jackson, No. 32, Skinner-Row.
M,DCC,LXXVII.