The Theory of Moral Sentiments 1759
"In [March] 1759, Adam Smith published The Theory of Moral Sentiments. . . . At the beginning of the book, he stated that all people had the capacity to care about others. He pointed out that no matter how selfish a man might be,
. . . 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.
But Smith also believed that people often acted in their self-interest, especially in economic matters. He contended, however, that this was not bad. He concluded that self-seeking individuals were "led by an invisible hand" that caused them to unintentionally act in ways that still benefited society."
Walking in another Person's Shoes:
As we have no immediate experience of what other men feel, we can form no idea of the manner in which they are affected, but by conceiving what we ourselves should feel in the like situation. Though our brother is on the rack, as long as we ourselves are at our ease, our senses will never inform us of what he suffers.
Adam Smith explores our capacity to do this.
Adam Smith is a professor of logic at the University of Edinburg, a school described as the Athens of the North. There was a Scottish Enlightenment going on there.
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Excerpt source:
When Published?
The date of the letter indicates that the The Theory of Moral Sentiments might have been first published in March 1759:
"When Adam Smith wrote 'The Theory of Moral Sentiments' in 1759, Hume wrote to him.
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In this playful letter [12 April 1759] to his friend, Hume concocts a series of interruptions to prevent him from revealing to Smith his opinion of Smith's published work
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When he finally comes to the point, Hume declares Smith's work a triumph."
Source:
Letter from David Hume to Adam Smith, 12 April 1759, in Hume, D. (2011) New Letters of David Hume, ed. Raymond Klibansky and Ernest C. Mossner, Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 49.
Letters of David Hume
Source
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The Actual Text
'The Theory of Moral Sentiments' in 1759,
Adam Smith worked at the University of Edinburgh:
The University of Edinburgh (Scots: University o Edinburgh, Scottish Gaelic: Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as Edin. inpost-nominals) is a publicresearch university based in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Founded by the town council under the authority of a royal charter of King James VI in 1582 and officially opened in 1583, it is one of Scotland's four ancient universities and the sixth-oldest university in continuous operation in the English-speaking world.
The university played an important role in Edinburgh becoming a chief intellectual centre during the Scottish Enlightenment and contributed to the city being nicknamed the "Athens of the North."
Edinburgh is ranked among the top universities in the United Kingdom and the world
During this time in March 1759, Fort Loudoun is still being garrisoned even after the reduction of Fort Duquesne. Some of retired Colonel George Washington's Virginia Regiment are also at Fort Pitt and Fort Ligonier.
Compiled by Jim Moyer 3/19/2023, 3/25/2023, 3/26/2023, updated 6/18/2023
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