The Theory of Moral Sentiments - Brossura

Smith, Adam

Brossura

ISBN 10: 0486452913 ISBN 13: 9780486452913

Casa editrice: Dover Pubns, 2007

Riassunto

The foundation for a general system of morals, this 1749 work is a landmark in the history of moral and political thought. Readers familiar with Adam Smith from The Wealth of Nations will find this earlier book a revelation. Although the author is often misrepresented as a calculating rationalist who advises the pursuit of self-interest in the marketplace, regardless of the human cost, he was also interested in the human capacity for benevolence &; as The Theory of Moral Sentiments amply demonstrates.
The greatest prudence, Smith suggests, may lie in following economic self-interest in order to secure the basic necessities. This is only the first step, however, toward the much higher goal of achieving a morally virtuous life. Smith elaborates upon a theory of the imagination inspired by the philosophy of David Hume. His reasoning takes Hume's logic a step further by proposing a more sophisticated notion of sympathy, leading to a series of highly original theories involving conscience, moral judgment, and virtue.
Smith's legacy consists of his reconstruction of the Enlightenment idea of a moral, or social, science that embraces both political economy and the theory of law and government. His articulate expression of his philosophy continues to inspire and challenge modern readers.

Su questo libro

L'autore

Adam Smith (1723–1790) was a Scottish moral philosopher and a pioneer of political economy. One of the key figures of the Scottish Enlightenment, Smith is the author of The Theory of Moral Sentiments and An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations. The latter, usually abbreviated as The Wealth of Nations, is considered his magnum opus and the first modern work of economics. Adam Smith is widely cited as the father of modern economics. Smith studied moral philosophy at the University of Glasgow and Oxford University. After graduating he delivered a successful series of public lectures at Edinburgh, leading him to collaborate with David Hume during the Scottish Enlightenment. Smith obtained a professorship at Glasgow teaching moral philosophy, and during this time wrote and published The Theory of Moral Sentiments. In his later life he took a tutoring position which allowed him to travel throughout Europe where he met other intellectual leaders of his day. Smith returned home and spent the next ten years writing The Wealth of Nations (mainly from his lecture notes) which was published in 1776. He died in 1790.

Contenuti

PART I: of the propriety of action, consisting of three sections SECTION I: Of the sense of propriety SECTION II: Of the degrees of the different passions which are consistent with propriety SECTION III: Of the effects of prosperity and adversity upon the judgment of mankind with regard to the propriety of action; and why it is more easy to obtain their approbation in the one state than in the other PART II: of merit and demerit; or, of the objects of reward and punishment; consisting of three sections SECTION I: Of the sense of merit and demerit SECTION II: Of justice and beneficence SECTION III: Of the influence of fortune upon the sentiments of mankind, with regard to the merit or demerit of actions PART III: of the foundation of our judgments concerning our own sentiments and conduct, and of the sense of duty PART IV: of the effect of utility upon the sentiment of approbation consisting of one section PART V: of the influence of custom and fashion upon the sentiments of moral approbation and disapprobation consisting of one section PART VI: of the character of virtue consisting of three sections SECTION I: Of the character of the individual, so far as it affects his own happiness; or of prudence SECTION II: Of the character of the individual, so far as it can affect the happiness of other people SECTION III: Of self-command PART VII: of systems of moral philosophy: consisting of four sections SECTION I: Of the questions which ought to be examined in a theory of moral sentiments SECTION II: Of the different accounts which have been given of the nature of virtue SECTION III: Of the different systems which have been formed concerning the principle of approbation SECTION IV: Of the manner in which different authors have treated of the practical rules of morality Endnotes

Dettagli dell'edizione

• Editore: Dover Pubns
• Data di pubblicazione: 2007
• Lingua: Inglese
• ISBN 10: 0486452913
• ISBN 13: 9780486452913
• Rilegatura: Copertina flessibile
• Numero di pagine: 347
• Contatto del produttore: non disponibile
• Persona responsabile: Soc. Agr. La Raia Ss; http://www.la-raia.it; ; Strada Monterotondo, 79; Novi Ligure; 15067; Italia