Ancient Knowledge ClubThe Theory of Moral SentimentsAdam Smith

Guided edition

The Theory of Moral Sentiments

Name: The Theory of Moral Sentiments
Author: Adam Smith

by Adam Smith

A study of sympathy, character, judgement and the social life behind moral choices.

Written 1759 79 guided readings Named English edition Read at your own pace

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Part I.—: Of The Propriety Of Action

Chap. I.—: Of SympathyOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. II.—: Of The Pleasure Of Mutual SympathyOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. III.—: Of The Manner In Which We Judge Of The Propriety Or Impropriety Of The Affections Of Other Men, By Their Concord Or Dissonance With Our OwnOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. IV.—: The Same Subject ContinuedOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. V.—: Of The Amiable And Respectable VirtuesOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. I.—: Of The Passions Which Take Their Origin From The BodyOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. II.—: Of Those Passions Which Take Their Origin From A Particular Turn Or Habit Of The ImaginationOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. III.—: Of The Unsocial PassionsOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. IV.—: Of The Social PassionsOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. V.—: Of The Selfish PassionsOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. I.—: That Though Our Sympathy With Sorrow Is Generally A More Lively Sensation Than Our Sympathy With Joy, It Commonly Falls Much More Short Of The Violence Of What Is Naturally Felt By The Person Principally ConcernedOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. II.—: Of The Origin Of Ambition, And Of The Distinction Of Ranks. Ambition as a pursuit of public attentionOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. II.—: Of The Origin Of Ambition, And Of The Distinction Of Ranks. How rank shapes conduct and traps ambitionOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. II.—: Of The Origin Of Ambition, And Of The Distinction Of Ranks. Why contempt can wound more than dangerOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. III.—: Of The Corruption Of Our Moral Sentiments, Which Is Occasioned By This Disposition To Admire The Rich And The Great, And To Despise Or Neglect Persons Of Poor And Mean ConditionOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Part II.—: Of Merit And Demerit; Or, Of The Objects Of Reward And Punishment

Chap. I.—: That Whatever Appears To Be The Proper Object Of Gratitude, Appears To Deserve Reward; And That, In The Same Manner, Whatever Appears To Be The Proper Object Of Resentment, Appears To Deserve PunishmentOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. II.—: Of The Proper Objects Of Gratitude And ResentmentOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. III.—: That Where There Is No Approbation Of The Conduct Of The Person Who Confers The Benefit, There Is Little Sympathy With The Gratitude Of Him Who Receives It: And That, On The Contrary, Where There Is No Disapprobation Of The Motives Of The Person Who Does The Mischief, There Is No Sort Of Sympathy With The Resentment Of Him Who Suffers ItOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. IV.—: Recapitulation Of The Foregoing ChaptersOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. V.—: The Analysis Of The Sense Of Merit And DemeritOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. I.—: Comparison Of Those Two VirtuesOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. II.—: Of The Sense Of Justice, Of Remorse, And Of The Consciousness Of MeritOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. III.—: Of The Utility Of This Constitution Of Nature. Justice as the foundation of social lifeOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. III.—: Of The Utility Of This Constitution Of Nature. Individual injury, public necessity, and moral luckOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. I.—: Of The Causes Of This Influence Of FortuneOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. II.—: Of The Extent Of This Influence Of Fortune. How failure diminishes perceived desertOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. II.—: Of The Extent Of This Influence Of Fortune. How consequences enlarge blame and gratitudeOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. III.—: Of The Final Cause Of This Irregularity Of SentimentsOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Part III.—: Of The Foundation Of Our Judgments Concerning Our Own Sentiments And Conduct, And Of The Sense Of Duty

Chap. I.—: Of The Principle Of Self-approbation And Of Self-disapprobationOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. II.—: Of The Love Of Praise, And Of That Of Praise-worthiness; And Of The Dread Of Blame, And Of That Of Blame-worthiness. Why deserved praise matters more than praiseOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. II.—: Of The Love Of Praise, And Of That Of Praise-worthiness; And Of The Dread Of Blame, And Of That Of Blame-worthiness. Why blameworthiness can hurt without discoveryOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. II.—: Of The Love Of Praise, And Of That Of Praise-worthiness; And Of The Dread Of Blame, And Of That Of Blame-worthiness. Why uncertainty increases dependence on opinionOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. II.—: Of The Love Of Praise, And Of That Of Praise-worthiness; And Of The Dread Of Blame, And Of That Of Blame-worthiness. The outer audience and the inner tribunalOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. III.—: Of The Influence And Authority Of Conscience. How conscience corrects the scale of self interestOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. III.—: Of The Influence And Authority Of Conscience. Proportion in sympathy and private misfortuneOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. III.—: Of The Influence And Authority Of Conscience. How social practice builds self commandOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. III.—: Of The Influence And Authority Of Conscience. Tranquillity, acceptance, and complete virtueOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. III.—: Of The Influence And Authority Of Conscience. How partial audiences corrupt moral judgementOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. IV.—: Of The Nature Of Self-deceit, And Of The Origin And Use Of General RulesOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. V.—: Of The Influence And Authority Of The General Rules Of Morality, And That They Are Justly Regarded As The Laws Of The Deity. Duty as steady regard for moral rulesOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. V.—: Of The Influence And Authority Of The General Rules Of Morality, And That They Are Justly Regarded As The Laws Of The Deity. Natural rewards, moral desert, and religious sanctionOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. VI.—: In What Cases The Sense Of Duty Ought To Be The Sole Principle Of Our Conduct; And In What Cases It Ought To Concur With Other Motives. When duty should govern or support affectionOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. VI.—: In What Cases The Sense Of Duty Ought To Be The Sole Principle Of Our Conduct; And In What Cases It Ought To Concur With Other Motives. Precise justice and the danger of erroneous dutyOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Part IV.—: Of The Effect Of Utility Upon The Sentiment Of Approbation

Chap. I.—: Of The Beauty Which The Appearance Of Utility Bestows Upon All The Productions Of Art, And Of The Extensive Influence Of This Species Of Beauty. The seductive beauty of useful arrangementsOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. I.—: Of The Beauty Which The Appearance Of Utility Bestows Upon All The Productions Of Art, And Of The Extensive Influence Of This Species Of Beauty. How the love of systems moves societyOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. II.—: Of The Beauty Which The Appearance Of Utility Bestows Upon The Characters And The Actions Of Men; And How Far The Perception Of This Beauty May Be Regarded As One Of The Original Principles Of ApprobationOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Part V.—: Of The Influence Of Custom And Fashion Upon The Sentiments Of Moral Approbation And Disapprobation

Chap. I.—: Of The Influence Of Custom And Fashion Upon Our Notions Of Beauty And DeformityOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. II.—: Of The Influence Of Custom And Fashion Upon Moral Sentiments. Moral habits and the characters expected of social rolesOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. II.—: Of The Influence Of Custom And Fashion Upon Moral Sentiments. How circumstances set different emotional standardsOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. II.—: Of The Influence Of Custom And Fashion Upon Moral Sentiments. When custom excuses wrong and prudence preserves the selfOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. II.—: Of The Influence Of Custom And Fashion Upon Moral Sentiments. Prudence, tranquillity, and the limits of private virtueOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Part VI.—: Of The Character Of Virtue

Chap. I.—: Of The Order In Which Individuals Are Recommended By Nature To Our Care And Attention. Why care begins near and grows through shared lifeOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. I.—: Of The Order In Which Individuals Are Recommended By Nature To Our Care And Attention. Chosen friendship, gratitude, and competing claimsOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. II.—: Of The Order In Which Societies Are By Nature Recommended To Our Beneficence. Patriotism without national envyOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. II.—: Of The Order In Which Societies Are By Nature Recommended To Our Beneficence. Humane reform against the man of systemOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. III.—: Of Universal Benevolence. Universal goodwill, limited duties, and self-commandOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. III.—: Of Universal Benevolence. Self-command as power directed by virtueOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. III.—: Of Universal Benevolence. Sensibility, self-command, and honest self-estimationOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. III.—: Of Universal Benevolence. Ideal standards, presumption, and the glamour of successOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. III.—: Of Universal Benevolence. Secure merit, pride, and the performance of vanityOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. III.—: Of Universal Benevolence. Directing ambition towards deserved esteemOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. III.—: Of Universal Benevolence. Four virtues and two questions for moral philosophyOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Part VII.—: Of Systems Of Moral Philosophy

Chap. I.—: Of Those Systems Which Make Virtue Consist In Propriety. Plato's harmony and Aristotle's trained meanOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. I.—: Of Those Systems Which Make Virtue Consist In Propriety. Stoic choice within a larger orderOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. I.—: Of Those Systems Which Make Virtue Consist In Propriety. Playing well when fortune decides the resultOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. I.—: Of Those Systems Which Make Virtue Consist In Propriety. Ancient insecurity and the fashioning of a doctrineOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. I.—: Of Those Systems Which Make Virtue Consist In Propriety. Compassion, Stoic acceptance, and the failure of absolute paradoxOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. I.—: Of Those Systems Which Make Virtue Consist In Propriety. Attainable virtue and the limits of proprietyOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. II.—: Of Those Systems Which Make Virtue Consist In PrudenceOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. III.—: Of Those Systems Which Make Virtue Consist In BenevolenceOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. IV.—: Of Licentious Systems. Mandeville's reduction of virtue to vanityOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. IV.—: Of Licentious Systems. The linguistic trick behind private vicesOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. I.—: Of Those Systems Which Deduce The Principle Of Approbation From Self-loveOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. II.—: Of Those Systems Which Make Reason The Principle Of ApprobationOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. III.—: Of Those Systems Which Make Sentiment The Principle Of Approbation. Moral sense tested against sympathyOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. III.—: Of Those Systems Which Make Sentiment The Principle Of Approbation. Four sources of approval and two styles of moral instructionOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. III.—: Of Those Systems Which Make Sentiment The Principle Of Approbation. Coerced promises and the rise of casuistryOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. III.—: Of Those Systems Which Make Sentiment The Principle Of Approbation. Why being believed requires becoming trustworthyOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Chap. III.—: Of Those Systems Which Make Sentiment The Principle Of Approbation. Why morality needs ethics and jurisprudence, not exhaustive casuistryOriginal source, plain English guide and key takeaways

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Source and edition are always named.

Adam Smith, 1759. The Ancient Knowledge Club guide is original and kept separate from the source text.