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Vanity and the love of system in Theory of Moral Sentiments

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  • Daniel Diatkine

Abstract

Some recent writing on Adam Smith's Theory of Moral Sentiments has emphasised the importance of vanity as one of the most important human motivations. This reading leads to a new version of Das Adam Smith Problem, but this is unwarranted. Such a reading tends to conceal the significance that Smith gave to the love of system, which motivates the actions of the philosopher, the man of state, and above all the entrepreneur. This paper shows, by contrast, that by using this conception we can relate Theory of Moral Sentiments to Wealth of Nations, and reject the idea that these works are based upon contradictory assumptions.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel Diatkine, 2010. "Vanity and the love of system in Theory of Moral Sentiments," The European Journal of the History of Economic Thought, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 17(3), pages 383-404.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:eujhet:v:17:y:2010:i:3:p:383-404
    DOI: 10.1080/09672560903204924
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    Cited by:

    1. Elazar, Yiftah, 2022. "Adam Smith and the Wealth-Worshipping Spectator," OSF Preprints j5pt6, Center for Open Science.
    2. Ecem Okan, 2017. "How did it all begin? Adam Smith on the early and rude state of society and the age of hunters," Post-Print hal-03171143, HAL.
    3. Jean-Daniel Boyer, 2023. "Débattre mais pas trop. À propos de « l’utilité des discussions économiques » (et de leur inutilité) pour changer l’homme et la société," Working Papers 10-23, Association Française de Cliométrie (AFC).
    4. Mollie Painter-Morland & Rosa Slegers, 2018. "Strengthening “Giving Voice to Values” in Business Schools by Reconsidering the “Invisible Hand” Metaphor," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 147(4), pages 807-819, February.
    5. Michele Bee & Ivan Sternick, 2023. "“Value in exchange”: Pufendorf’s moral quantities in Smith’s quantities of labour," Textos para Discussão Cedeplar-UFMG 656, Cedeplar, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais.

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