On Adam Smith's Theory Of Sympathy

Adam Smith is one of the representatives of western school emotionalism ethics,and has a wealth of ethics thought,which mainly embodied in "The Theory of Moral Sentiments ",he put out the central concept—sympathy.Smith can judge the"·propriety" of the emotional or behavior in a particular situation on the basis of the principle,that is to say,he starts with empathy in human nature,and uses "the impartial spectator" to overcome the selfness of spectator in reality who judges the morality,meanwhile,moral judgment based on sympathy of the impartial spectator.Smith thinks that formation of virtues go back to the instinctive emotional psychology,it can greatly broaden the moral research 's vision,and enrich the content of moral study.The nature of sympathy is "empathy",it's production needs the function of"situation".In addition,we understand other's emotion properly by relying on"imagination","sensitivity","reason and judgment".Smith's sympathy occurs between"actors and spectator",their behavior is the representative of the social behavior,so it is not only personal psychological behavior of spectator,but also social psychological mechanism.Under the action of sympathy,people of society will pursue "consistency"in emotion,the "propriety"in action,and sometimes let the "impartial spectator"supervise myself.On the walking road,we can pursue the success,and the virtue.Smith's theory of virtue includes beneficence,justice,prudence,self-control and so on,the prudence of them is a virtue of caring individual happiness,the self-control is an important virtue,the justice is a virtue that can't violate it,the beneficence is a free virtue.There is sympathy and self-love in human nature,they are the foundation of virtue.People in society is consistent with others,and there isn't conflict between the pursuit of success and virtue.A virtuous man need have self-control,it can really practice other virtues;A successful people has some virtues,in addition to the solid ability,but only the self-control is not enough,the prudence is the important virtue.Although some success don't rely on virtues,such as other success by congenital advantage,luck,misconduct,and so on,both most people's success and keeping it need to rely on virtues When you have more noble virtue,you will seek more success.