Graduation Year
2023
Date of Submission
4-2023
Document Type
Open Access Senior Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Philosophy
Reader 1
Adrienne Martin
Abstract
In this thesis, I present Hume’s and Smith’s sentimentalist theories as examples of a special type of moral framework that seeks normativity from human sentiments. Their theories are based the metaethical framework of expressivism: every normative judgment is an expression of approbation or resentment, and this statement becomes a moral rule if an impartial spectator can sympathize with the moral agent’s sentiments.
The concept of impartial spectator also faces the challenge of reinforcing systematic injustice. The influence of the dominant class, and their vested interest in continuing this oppression prevents people from accessing the full context of many situations. This hinders people from entering the impartial spectator’s perspective, and thus lead to problematic moral judgments. Furthermore, because of people’s pursuit of wealth and power, this vanity corrupts the moral sentiment of many people.
Recommended Citation
Li, Zhutao, "Moralize through Sympathy: An Analysis of Adam Smith’s Sentimentalist Moral Theory" (2023). CMC Senior Theses. 3348.
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cmc_theses/3348
