The Theory of Moral Sentiments

The Theory of Moral Sentiments was written by Adam Smith and published in 1759. It provides an ethical, philosophical, and methodological foundation for Smith's later work such as The Wealth of Nations.

For Smith, morality is something natural, so it is not something that we have to calculate. It is integrated into human beings as social beings, and therefore, when we see people happy or sad, we empathize and also feel happy or sad. We get positive reinforcement as pleasure when people do things we approve of, and distress when they don't.

The Theory of Moral Sentiments divides moral philosophy into four parts: Ethics and Virtue; Private rights and Natural liberty; Familial rights and State and Individual rights.

The book defines the basic rules of prudence and justice for society to survive and what additional actions must be taken to achieve greater prosperity.

How selfish soever man may be supposed, there are evidently some principles in his nature, which interest him in the fortune of others, and render their happiness necessary to him, though he derives nothing from it, except the pleasure of seeing it.