The man within the breast, the supreme impartial spectator, and other impartial spectators in Adam Smith’s <i>The Theory of Moral Sentiments</i>

Klein, Daniel B.; Matson, Erik W.; Doran, Colin

doi:10.1080/01916599.2018.1485001

Cited by 13 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…Sometimes “impartial spectator” designates an actual bystander who is putatively disinterested in the situation at hand. Occasionally Smith equates the impartial spectator with the conscience or “the man within the breast” (e.g., TMS III.2.32), although often with the interjection of the skeptical adjective “supposed” (Klein, Matson, and Doran 2018, pp. 1162–1164).…”

Section: The Right the Good And The Impartial Spectatormentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The right corresponds to the good. If we take the Impartial Spectator to be analogous to God (Evensky 1987, p. 452; Klein, Matson, and Doran 2018), or perhaps the Stoic divine being (Brown 1994, p. 74), the point becomes apparent. “Benevolence,” Smith writes, “may be the sole principle of action in the Deity, and there are several, not improbable, arguments which tend to persuade us that it is so.…”

Section: The Right the Good And The Impartial Spectatormentioning

confidence: 99%

“…But one might also sustain an allegorical-theological reading of Smith and come to similar interpretations (Klein 2012, pp. 213–239; Klein, Matson, and Doran 2018). Edwin Cannan, in his Presidential Address to the British Association in 1902, seems to have put forth such an interpretation when he said, along Smithian lines, that “the reason why it pays to do the right thing—to do nearly what an omniscient and omnipotent benevolent Inca would order to be done—are to be looked for in the laws of value” (Cannan 1902, p. 461).…”

Section: Focalism and Political Economy: Bidirectional Reinforcementmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…He adds a takedown of what David Hume calls the Christian “monkish virtues” of humility and asceticism ( TMS III.2.35). Complicating matters further is the fact that Smith deploys additional theological concepts in the final edition of TMS (Forman-Barzilai 2010, p. 93; Klein, Matson, and Doran 2018), using those concepts to advance an understanding of virtue and effective social practice (see Dickey 1986). Part VI of TMS , especially the chapter on universal benevolence where Smith presents the ethic of focalism most pointedly, is replete with theological language.…”

Section: Introduction: Philosophizing Towards a Better Societymentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Edifying Discourses of Adam Smith: Focalism, Commerce, and Serving the Common Good

Matson¹

2022

J Hist Econ Thought

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Adam Smith’s discourses aim to encourage mores, practices, and public policies in service to the common good, or that which a universally benevolent spectator would approve of. The Wealth of Nations illustrates how in pursuing our own happiness within the bounds of prudence and commutative justice, we may be said, literally or metaphorically, to cooperate with God in furthering the happiness of humankind. The Theory of Moral Sentiments elaborates an ethic, here called “focalism,” that instructs us to proportion our beneficent efforts to our knowledge and ability. The relationship between political economy and focalism is bidirectionally reinforcing. In one direction, the ethic of focalism contributes to the moral authorization of self-love, thereby invigorating and dignifying honest commercial activities. In the other direction, the insights of political economy reinforce the ethic of focalism by elaborating how through prudent commerce and focal beneficence, we cooperate, even if only metaphorically, in a grand social enterprise.

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Section: The Right the Good And The Impartial Spectatormentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Right the Good And The Impartial Spectatormentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Focalism and Political Economy: Bidirectional Reinforcementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introduction: Philosophizing Towards a Better Societymentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

The Edifying Discourses of Adam Smith: Focalism, Commerce, and Serving the Common Good

Matson¹

2022

J Hist Econ Thought

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“…In such circumstances, aspects of both Problem 1 ("What is the proper response?") and 14 Klein et al (2018) argue that Smith sometimes describes the impartial spectator as "the impartial spectator," as in an ideal entity with super-human knowledge and moral judgment. At other times, Smith's impartial spectator is described as a representative of the impartial spectator.…”

Section: Navigating the Challengementioning

confidence: 99%

Self-Censorship and Associational Life in the Liberal Academy

Chamlee‐Wright

2019

Soc

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Self-censorship is a well-documented phenomenon within the academy. Building from the works of Tocqueville, Mill, and Smith, this paper identifies sources of self-censorship within the academy, namely the values of intellectual abrasion and civility, that are associated with the liberal intellectual tradition. The resulting phenomenon of self-censorship, I argue, has both positive and negative effects on the quality of public and academic discourse. Given the dual nature of self-censorship, scholars seeking to make the morally upright choice of whether to self-censor or to speak up face both an epistemological and a moral challenge. I argue that in discussions of the "impartial spectator" and the virtue of self-command, Adam Smith's Theory of Moral Sentiments anticipates these challenges and lends guidance to the scholar who is sincerely committed to doing what is right when navigating associational life within the academy.

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Adam Smith on moral judgment: Why people tend to make better judgments within liberal institutions

Mueller

2021

Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization

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The man within the breast, the supreme impartial spectator, and other impartial spectators in Adam Smith’s The Theory of Moral Sentiments

Cited by 13 publications

References 0 publications

The Edifying Discourses of Adam Smith: Focalism, Commerce, and Serving the Common Good

The Edifying Discourses of Adam Smith: Focalism, Commerce, and Serving the Common Good

Self-Censorship and Associational Life in the Liberal Academy

Adam Smith on moral judgment: Why people tend to make better judgments within liberal institutions

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