A Study Of Adam Smith's Thought Of Conscience

Conscience is an eternal topic.Throughout the ages,the improvement of civic quality and the harmonious development of society have never ceased to appeal to conscience.The study of conscience thought can be traced back to the classical period,among which Adam Smith is the most profound,systematic and comprehensive philosopher on conscience thought.Adam Smith's conscience thought is mainly concentrated in his ethics work--The Theory of Moral Sentiments.He revised 6 editions of The Theory of Moral Sentiments before his death,and each edition involved the discussion of conscience thought,which has been constantly revised,enriched and improved.Based on the background of his times,Adam Smith's conscience thought has formed a theoretical system of conscience thought with deep research and rigorous logic on the basis of critical inheritance of butler's conscience view,Shaftesbury's and Hutchison's affectivism thought,Stoicism's egoism view and natural law.Adam Smith's thought of conscience is based on the sympathetic feeling as the emotional basis of moral judgment and the impartial observer as the subject of moral judgment.Through the study of his conscience thought,conscience can be defined as a standard to judge whether his behavior and feelings are appropriate,and is a symbol of shame and shame.Smith's thought of conscience has great authority,it plays a coordinating role in the imbalance between people's egoism and altruism.At the same time,his conscience is constantly mature in the day after tomorrow's teaching and learning,if there is no correct moral education and personal moral practice,then it will be difficult to shape a person with conscience.In addition,there is an inseparable and complementary relationship between Smith's thought of conscience and the concepts of external man,general norms and virtue of justice.Adam Smith's thought of conscience has important historical value.In the 18 th century,conscience gave comfort to individuals,which not only maintained the stability of the British social order,but also promoted the healthy and orderly development of the capitalist market economy.At the same time,Adam Smith's systematic exposition and comprehensive explanation of conscience also laid a theoretical foundation for later philosophers to study conscience.Of course,it also has historical limitations,which are mainly reflected in the overemphasis on the subjectivity of the inner emotional judgment,the emphasis on the motive and the neglect of the effect,and the lack of completely getting rid of the influence of theology.Now reviewing Adam Smith's conscience thought,and found that the implementation of its in today's society is not only can help people improve their awareness of moral self-discipline,enhance people's social sense of responsibility,but also let people clear the real happiness is a kind of conscience,happiness comes from the inner calm and peace of conscience,not abundance of wealth and status.It can be seen that Adam Smith's conscience thought can provide scientific reference for people in the pursuit of happiness,and has a positive effect on the construction of a better life.