Does Friendship Stem from Altruism? Adam Smith and the Distinction between Love-based and Interest-based Preferences

Abstract

Friendship-and-love expresses musings about wellbeing—while “wellbeing” is the economist’s substantive satisfaction. Insofar as altruism is about wellbeing, it must differ from friendship-and-love. However, what is the basis of the difference between substantive satisfaction and friendship-and-love? The answer can be found in Smith’s Theory of Moral Sentiments, chapter 2: how “mutual sympathy” differs from “sympathy.” Smith scholars generally miss the uniqueness of “mutual sympathy” and, indeed, fold it under Smith’s “sympathy” (and “empathy”)—with one exception. Robert Sugden highlights the uniqueness of mutual sympathy. However, he goes to the other end, i.e., folds it under Smith’s sympathy-and-empathy”. This paper aims to avoid the folding in either direction. While mutual sympathy originates love-based sociality (friendship-and-love), sympathy-and-empathy originates interest-based sociality (wellbeing that includes altruism). This paper concludes that friendship is neither reducible to altruism nor vice versa. Further, this paper distinguishes this problem from the question regarding the socialization of the individual.

The cost of love: Solving the gift anomaly

“…13-16). As detailed elsewhere (Khalil, 2022a), Smith noticed that social interaction tends to replicate the original emotion via Beckerian mimicking and copying. For instance, if people attend a party consisting mostly of people in a depressed mood, the DM will feel the same.…”

“…Regarding the gift, it amounts to a gesture that conveys friendship, fondness, and love. Regarding the cost of love, it consists of negative feelings such as the heartaches, emotional upheavals, hurt feelings, obsessions, emotional vulnerability, and emotional abuse (see Khalil, 2023d). For instance, the gift can be as simple as a warm greeting, whereas the cost of love can be receiving an aloof greeting in reciprocation.…”

“…Smith visited in TMS his concept of “mutual sympathy” only twice, first briefly when he calls it “mutual friendship” (Smith, 1976, p. 38) and second in detail when he calls it “habitual sympathy” (Smith, 1976, 220–222). Incidentally, he employs “habitual sympathy” when he discussed lingering tribal bonding, what constitutes friendship‐and‐love, which prohibits the spread of market‐based transactions (see Khalil, 2023d).…”