#353

Mentioned in 49 episodes

The theory of moral sentiments

Book • 1759

Published in 1759, 'The Theory of Moral Sentiments' is Adam Smith's first major published work, based on his lectures at Glasgow University.

The book argues that morality is driven by humanity's natural sociability and the need for approval from peers, rather than by rational calculation or innate moral sense.

Smith introduces key concepts such as sympathy, the impartial spectator, and the invisible hand, which explain how individuals judge the conduct and character of themselves and others.

The work delves into the emotional and social aspects of human behavior, highlighting the role of emotions like pity and compassion in shaping moral sentiments and behaviors.

Mentioned by

Mentioned in 49 episodes

Mentioned by

Ryan Holiday

as a book with stoic ideas that explains to act as if you have an indifferent spectator on your shoulder.

512 snips

Why Are You Surprised? | 12 Stoic Strategies on How To Stop Caring What People Think

Mentioned by

Ryan Holiday

as the author of 'The Wealth of Nations' and 'The Theory of Moral Sentiments'.

333 snips

The Virtue That Makes All The Others Worth Having

Mentioned by

John List

as an alternative to 'Wealth of Nations' for easier reading.

244 snips

#566: John List — A Master Economist on Strategic Quitting, How to Practice Theory of Mind, Learnings from Uber, Optimizations to Boost Donations, the Primitives of Decision-Making, and How Field Experiments Reveal Hidden Realities

Reference to Adam Smith's earlier book on propriety and how we judge the actions of others.

217 snips

What Is Capitalism? (with Mike Munger)

Mentioned by

Sean Illing

as important as the Wealth of Nations.

165 snips

A right-wing economist makes his case

Mentioned by

Russ Roberts

as part of a discussion with Dan Klein, which inspired his own book.

163 snips

EconTalk #1000 (with Russ Roberts)

Mentioned by

Paul Bloom

when discussing Adam Smith's deep understanding of human nature.

162 snips

Nature vs. Nurture (with Paul Bloom)

Mentioned by

Samuel Bowles

while discussing the limitations of the 'invisible hand' theory.

155 snips

247 | Samuel Bowles on Economics, Cooperation, and Inequality

Mentioned by

Michael Munger

and

Russ Roberts

in the context of moral sentiments, self-governance, and the sense of propriety.

123 snips

Michael Munger on Obedience to the Unenforceable

Mentioned by

Russ Roberts

in relation to the concept of a 'man of system', relating to the potential for systems to cause harm.

102 snips

Russ Roberts on Vasily Grossman’s Life and Fate

Mentioned by

Clay Finck

in relation to the concept of the inner scorecard.

95 snips

TIP666: Compounding Beyond Wealth: Unlocking Life’s Hidden Potential w/ Clay Finck & Kyle Grieve

Mentioned by

Russ Roberts

in the context of self-interest and human behavior.

83 snips

Alexandra Hudson on the Soul of Civility

Mentioned by

Russ Roberts

when discussing the pursuit of gadgets and material well-being.

78 snips

Leon Kass on the Wisdom of Rousseau

Mentioned by

Reid Hoffman

along with 'The Wealth of Nations', highlighting that Smith's understanding of capitalism requires considering both economic and moral dimensions.

62 snips

Reid riffs on massive AI acquisitions, robotics, and headcount trimming

Mentioned by

Russ Roberts

in the context of how people react to negative experiences.

61 snips

#531 - Russ Roberts - An Economist’s Guide To Life’s Big Decisions

Mentioned by

Sean Illing

as Smith's first book, published in 1759.

46 snips

Revisiting the "father of capitalism"

Mentioned by

Russ Roberts

while discussing his shift in focus from economics to philosophy.

39 snips

#299 — Steps in the Right Direction

Todd Rose

says to read it, mentioning that Adam Smith was a moral philosopher who cared a lot about everyday people and how to lift all boats.

36 snips

Todd Rose — Are We Living in the Truman Show? (EP.270)

Mentioned as a good read, full of observations.

36 snips

How to Live like William Blake!

Mentioned by

Russ Roberts

to illustrate the concept of specialization and division of labor in watchmaking.

35 snips

Rebecca Struthers on Watches, Watchmaking, and the Hands of Time

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