Table of Contents

Introduction; 1. Adam Smith's moral theory, part one: sympathy and the impartial spectator procedure; 2. Smith's moral theory, part two: conscience and human nature; 3. The marketplace of morality; 4. The 'Adam Smith problem'; 5. The market model and the familiarity principle: solving the 'Adam Smith problem'; 6. Justifying smithian moral standards; 7. The unintended order of human social life: Language, marketplaces, and morality; Conclusion.

Promotional Information

James Otteson's 2002 book provides a comprehensive examination and interpretation of Smith's moral theory.

Reviews

'... a substantial and important study of Adam Smith's moral theory ... ambitious in its scope and coverage ...'. David Lieberman, School of Law, University of California, Berkeley '... rigorously argued, using just the right amount of references and citations, and written in a clear and concise language; the author drives his point home with remarkable effectiveness ...'. Canadian Journal of Political Science '... this is an important study with a distinctive contribution to debates about the 'Adam Smith problem'; it provides some stimulating arguments that deserve considered attention and will no doubt prompt further debate.' British Journal for the History of Philosophy