The Theory of Moral Sentiments

The Theory of Moral Sentiments is a book by Adam Smith, first published in 1759. This influential work explores the foundations of human morality, asking why people care about right and wrong, justice and injustice, praise and blame. Long before he wrote about economics, Smith examined how sympathy, conscience, and social relationships shape human character.

The book looks closely at how individuals form moral judgement in everyday life, weaving together psychology, philosophy, and social observation. Smith explains that our moral sense grows from our ability to imagine how others see us. This “impartial spectator,” an internal moral guide, encourages people to act with fairness, self-control, and virtue.

The book discusses key moral qualities such as prudence, benevolence, and justice, showing how ethical behaviour supports social order and human happiness. Through calm reasoning rather than abstract theory, Smith describes how real people navigate duty, honour, ambition, compassion, and self-interest.

A respected figure of the Scottish Enlightenment, Adam Smith presents a thoughtful moral philosophy grounded in everyday experience. His reflections on virtue ethics, human nature, and social behaviour laid the groundwork for later discussions about political economy, ethics, and civil society. Readers interested in classic philosophy, moral theory, or the history of ideas will find this a foundational text that still speaks to modern debates about values and responsibility.