“How selfish soever man may be supposed, there are evidently some principles in his nature, which interest him in the fortunes of others, and render their happiness necessary to him, though he derives nothing from it, except the pleasure of seeing it.” (from The Theory of Moral Sentiments) Adam Smith considered his first major book, The Theory of Moral Sentiments, his most important work. Indeed, the tome was a wild success upon its publication, selling out immediately. It has not lost popularity since. In this legendary work, Smith discusses the nature of morality, and the motives behind and origins of these “sentiments.” Originally published in 1759, this work provides the philosophical underpinnings for his later works, as well as elucidating the psychological and moral foundations of the workings of a complex society. Smith parses many important concepts in this book, with the central questions perhaps being: Where do our moral principles come from? Are they divine and inborn, reflection of man-made laws, or rational, based on their usefulness to society? Smith’s answers to these questions and more, and his explanation of how such sentiments, however derived, influence society’s self-coordination, have interested lay and scholar alike for hundreds of years.

Latest episodes of the podcast The Theory of Moral Sentiments (First Edition) by Adam Smith

• 01 – Part I, Section I: Chapters I – III
• 02 – Part I, Section I: Chapters IV – V
• 03 – Part I, Section II: Intro – Chapter II
• 04 – Part I, Section II: Chapter III – V
• 05 – Part I, Section III: Chapter I
• 06 – Part I, Section III: Chapter II
• 07 – Part I, Section III: Chapter III
• 08 – Part II, Section I: Intro – Chapter V
• 09 – Part II, Section II: Chapter I – II
• 10 – Part II, Section II: Chapter III
• 11 – Part II, Sectio n III: Intro – Chapter I
• 12 – Part II, Section III: Chapter II
• 13 – Part II, Section III: Chapter III – Notes
• 14 – Part III: Chapter I – Chapter IIa
• 15 – Part III: Chapter IIb
• 16 – Part III: Chapter IIIa
• 17 – Part III: Chapter IIIb
• 18 – Part III: Chapter IV
• 19 – Part III: Chapter V
• 20 – Part III: Chapter VI
• 21 – Part IV: Chapter I
• 22 – Part IV: Chapter II
• 23 – Part V: Chapter I
• 24 – Part V: Chapter II
• 25 – Part VI: Section I
• 26 – Part VI: Section II
• 27 – Part VI: Section III Chapter Ia
• 28 – Part VI: Section III Chapter Ib
• 29 – Part V – I: Section III Chapter Ic
• 30 – Part VI: Section III Chapter Id
• 31 – Part VI Section III Chapter II – Chapter III