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.

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Gutenberg ID

67363

Title

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.

Language

en

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Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Adam Smith's seminal work explores the principles governing human judgment regarding conduct and character, analyzing sympathy, propriety, and the origins of moral sentiments. The text also includes a dissertation on language evolution, examining how linguistic simplicity and complexity affect expression and thought.

Summary up to 500 words

In *The Theory of Moral Sentiments*, Adam Smith investigates the psychological and social mechanisms underpinning human moral judgment. He posits that our capacity for sympathy allows us to imagine the feelings of others, forming the basis for judging the propriety of actions. This sympathy operates through the concept of the 'impartial spectator,' an internalized figure representing the unbiased judgment of society. Smith categorizes human passions into social, unsocial, and selfish types, explaining how societal structures regulate these impulses to maintain order. A central distinction in the work is between justice and beneficence. Justice is a strict duty, a negative virtue requiring only that we do not harm others. Beneficence, conversely, is a voluntary virtue involving active kindness. While benevolence is the supreme virtue, Smith argues that prudence, propriety, and vigilance are equally essential for human flourishing. He critiques various philosophical systems—Stoic, benevolent, and prudential—evaluating their ability to fully explain the nature of virtue, ultimately suggesting that a complete moral theory must account for the propriety of all affections, not just benevolence or self-interest alone. The text also explores the influence of utility on moral and aesthetic sentiment. Smith observes that the perfection of a machine or action is often valued more highly than its mere utility. For instance, a watch that loses time is despised not because it fails its primary function, but because its imperfection displeases the observer. This principle extends to human ambition; individuals often pursue wealth and status not merely for the conveniences they provide, but for the propriety and beauty of the arrangement itself, sometimes sacrificing real tranquility for an artificial elegance. The second half of the work offers a dissertation on the origin of languages. Smith proposes that ancient languages were complex in composition but simple in declension, whereas modern languages have simplified their grammar at the cost of becoming more prolix and less flexible. He illustrates how auxiliary verbs and prepositions have replaced complex inflections in languages like English, French, and Italian. While this simplification makes languages easier to learn, it renders them less sweet to the ear and more constrained in syntax compared to Greek or Latin. Smith argues that this evolution, while logical, diminishes the eloquence and beauty of expression, tying words to specific positions and reducing the latitude available for artistic composition.

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Categories

• Philosophy
• Ethics