The Basis Of Sympathy:Emotion Or Reason

The eighteenth century was an era of social change,of rational enlightenment,and of sympathy.In this context,Smith’s sympathetic thought presents a reflective reason,whose sympathy is reflective sympathy.From the perspective of what emotion and reason is the moral origin,this paper systematically sorts out Smith’s moral philosophy theory,explores whether the basis of Smith’s sympathy is emotion or reason,clarifies the relevant questions caused by Smith’s lack of reason,and reveals the modern significance and possible realization path of its reflective sympathy for moral judgment.The first part of the article analyzes the ideological origin and historical background of Smith’s reflective sympathy thought.Through sorting out Smith’s previous sentimentalism thought,the moral origin position of sentimentalism and the reflective position of cognitive rationality in moral judgment are clarified.Clarifying Shaftesbury’s "moderate emotion",Hutchison’s "universal calm kindness",Butler’s "conscience reflection" and Hume’s affirmation of cognitive rationality are all the role of reflective rationality in re-correcting and guiding emotion in the process of moral judgment.The reflective reason in Smith’s thought is not only the inheritance of the emotional doctrine and the reflective thought,but also the absorption and integration of Stoic natural reason.Smith’s reflective thought is the inevitable result of the class contradictions in the capital society in the eighteenth century.The second part of the article mainly explores the emotional and rational relationship in Smith’s reflective sympathy theory.First of all,by analyzing the specific connotation of emotion and reflective rationality in the concept of sympathy,it shows that sympathy is a kind of emotion first,while sympathy contains the cognitive reflective rationality to the sympathy situation,so sympathy is the unity of emotion and reason.However,emphasizing reflective rationality is not equal to practical rationality,but to cognitive rationality under emotion.Secondly,by analyzing the objectivity of the impartial spectator theory as the operating mechanism of sympathy theory,we can prove how it guarantees reflective sympathy from the perspectives of society,comprehensiveness and neutrality.Explain that the social identity of impartial spectators provides objective evaluation criteria for sympathy,imagination provides comprehensive information for the judgment of others’ behavior and conscience for self-judgment,and the third party perspective of impartial spectators ensures a neutral judgment position to justify the rationality of compassion.Finally,the foundation of the sympathy is emotion and reason.Through interpretation in the process of sympathy as a moral judgment,suitability,merit,general principles and moral principles concept,are based on emotion but contains the reflection of rational,even general principles and moral norms play an important role in moral judgment,shows that the process of sympathy is the process of organic unity of emotion and rational,namely the sympathy is the basis of emotion and rationality.The third part of the article aims to respond to the "reflective rationality" position in Smith’s sympathy theory.First,compassion is clarified by the objective context of sympathy and the neutrality of sympathetic positions that it is not selfish.Second,the neutrality of just spectators proves that sympathy can be free from social prejudice,and that sympathy is objective and universal.Third,objective society and just spectators by moral standards are representatives of God’s authoritative reason to reveal that Smith’s sympathy theory is not relativism in nature.Fourthly,from the perspective of rational reflection identity,explaining the principle of appropriateness and virtue provides the moral standardization of reflection identification for Smith’s sympathy theory.The fourth part of the article reveals that Smith’s reflective sympathy is of great importance to the modern society.Reflective sympathy is the right one in modern society.To solve the moral dilemma should be the unity of emotion and reason,and put forward the cultivation path of reflective sympathy from five aspects: imagination cultivation,multicultural education,the awakening of conscience,moral education and fair system construction.In short,Smith’s reflective sympathy thought inspires us that sympathy needs the organic combination of emotion and reason,and to reflect on and revise our own behavior and judgment in the moral emotion.Only when we agree with and recognize ourselves and coexist in harmony with ourselves can we achieve a reflective balance.The pursuit of such a beautiful harmony is not for other purposes,but also to promote the perfection of human virtue,and to build a just and harmonious society,and for a better and happy life.