Dan Klein on The Theory of Moral Sentiments, Episode 1--An Overview
Apr 6, 2009
auto_awesome
Delve into Adam Smith's exploration of moral motivations in The Theory of Moral Sentiments, contrasting with The Wealth of Nations. Explore Smith's criteria for assessing morality and justice, his views on natural vs. positive laws, and the impact of government intervention. Reflect on gratitude, beneficence, and economic motivations, examining the ethical implications of profit-seeking behaviors and the interconnectedness of culture and economics. Dive into the human aspect of capitalism and Smith's concept of justice, ownership, and distributive justice.
The Theory of Moral Sentiments explores diverse human motivations beyond self-interest, including fame, glory, and social influences.
Adam Smith advocates for a virtuous society through aligning laws with moral sentiments and virtues, spanning from commerce to policy-making.
Smith's nuanced approach to moral approval involves sympathizing with motives, evaluating conduct based on rules, and promoting individual or societal happiness.
Deep dives
The Richness of Adam Smith's Theory of Moral Sentiments
Adam Smith's Theory of Moral Sentiments, written in 1759 and revised in 1790, provides a comprehensive understanding of human motivations. It delves into a broader spectrum of motivations beyond self-interest, encompassing fame, glory, guilt, and the influence of social interactions on behavior. Smith aims to refine moral considerations and move society towards wisdom, viewing moral sentiments as part of an enlightenment movement.
The Interplay Between Moral Sentiments and Natural Jurisprudence
Smith's exploration extends to natural jurisprudence, seeking to define desirable laws that align with moral sentiments and virtues. From commutative justice to the conduct of statesmen and individuals in commerce, the intertwined application of moral inquiry in various human interactions, such as commerce and policy-making, reflects Smith's vision of a virtuous society.
Considering the Moral Dimensions in Commerce and Policy
Smith's delineation of the sources of moral approval offers a nuanced understanding of how actions are judged within society. Sympathizing with an agent's motives, appreciating the gratitude or resentment of recipients, evaluating conduct based on established rules, and examining actions' overall utility in promoting individual or societal happiness are foundational to assessing moral behavior. This multi-faceted approach challenges simplistic views and advocates for a holistic evaluation of human actions.
Adam Smith's View on Justice and Welfare
Adam Smith explores the tension between his market-oriented beliefs and the moral consequences of interventions like Social Security. He acknowledges the richness of human life through Smith's taxonomy but questions the impact of interventions on personal care and social welfare.
Adam Smith on Distributive Justice
Adam Smith differentiates various notions of justice, including commutative justice, which involves respecting others' property, and distributive justice, which entails the proper beneficence and use of one's possessions. Smith's focus on ownership and beneficence highlights the complexities of interpreting justice and property rights in societal contexts.
Dan Klein, of George Mason University, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about Adam Smith's lesser-known masterpiece, The Theory of Moral Sentiments. Klein highlights key passages and concepts of the book including its relation to The Wealth of Nations, Smith's willingness to accept "vague, loose, and indeterminate" rules rather than precise ones, Smith's criteria for assessing what is moral and what is not, and Smith's conception of justice. This podcast is part of the EconTalk Book Club on The Theory of Moral Sentiments. It will be followed by four bonus podcasts in the coming weeks going through the book systematically. Interested listeners who wish to do the reading in advance can find the schedule along with more background on the book on the EconTalk book club page, accessible from the EconTalk home page.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode