Written in 1759 by Scottish philosopher and political economist Adam Smith, ‘The Theory of Moral Sentiments’ provides much of the foundation for the ideas in his later works, most notably in ‘The Wealth of Nations’. Through this initial text, Smith expresses his general system of morals, exploring the propriety of action, reward and punishment, sense of duty, and the effect of numerous factors on moral sentiment. In so doing, Smith devised innovative theories on virtues, conscience, and moral judgment that are still relevant and accessible today.
It divides moral philosophy into four parts: Ethics and Virtue; Private rights and Natural liberty; Familial rights (called Economics); and State and Individual rights (called Politics). Smith establishes the intellectual framework for all of his later work, including The Wealth of Nations. Though somewhat surprising to find a philosopher of Smith’s abilities discussing aspects such as luck and sympathy and how they affect self-image or relationships, it never loses its critical excellence in its good-natured understanding of the human exploration of the meaning of being good.