The Study On The Theological Thoughts In Smith's Ethics

Adam Smith is universally remembered as an economist. As a matter of fact, he is also a prominent moralist. His great work The Theory of Moral Sentiments coagulated his painstaking effort through his academic career. This dissertation discusses the theological thoughts embedded in his ethical work.Firstly, this dissertation discusses the background of the thought of Smith's theology, and analyzes the sources of this theory which are the Stoicism and the Calvinism that coexist in his ethical work. Actually, Smith's theological thought was more influenced by the Calvinism. The major characteristic of this thesis is the illustration with detail of Smith's individual religion tendency and the contradiction in Smith's theology world.In Smith's theological thought, this paper discusses Smith's view of nature as well as the theological pattern, and then points out that Smith endowed God with two vital roles as not only the outstanding world designer but also the final grand judger. Because of the coexistence not only of these two vital roles but also the Stoicism and the Calvinism, the theological thought has such characteristics as the contradiction of optimism and pessimism, rationality and nature.Theological thought in Smith's ethics has a great inspiration to the construction of the "universal ethics" in modern society and the resolution of the "crisis of belief in China today. Smith's thought is a great spiritual wealth. Modern people could get more from it.