Economics Dictionary of ArgumentsHome
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| Human Nature: Human nature is the fundamental dispositions and characteristics
- including ways of thinking, feeling, and acting - that humans are said to have naturally. Some assumed traits are sociality, intelligence, creativity, empathy, and Morality. Also see Intelligence, Morality, Actions, Action theory, Humans, Community, Society._____________Annotation: The above characterizations of concepts are neither definitions nor exhausting presentations of problems related to them. Instead, they are intended to give a short introduction to the contributions below. – Lexicon of Arguments. | |||
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Adam Smith on Human Nature - Dictionary of Arguments
Otteson I 23 Human nature/Adam Smith/Otteson: Public condemnation, and the consciousness of being judged negatively by others, are, Smith believes, powerful motivating factors for human behavior. "Nature," Smith writes, "has endowed [humankind], not only with a desire of being approved of, but with a desire of being what ought to be approved of; or of being what he himself approves of in other men" (TMS(1): 117). >Morality/Adam Smith, >Community/Adam Smith. For the person who has become cognizant that his actions have not only received blame but are actually blameworthy, the guilt can be debilitating: "These natural pangs of an affrighted conscience are the daemons, the avenging furies, which, in this life, haunt the guilty, which allow them neither quiet nor repose, which often drive them to despair and distraction" (TMS(1): 118). So strong is our desire for mutual sympathy of sentiments that we become, Smith says, "mortified" when we realize others do not approve ofour conduct (TMS(1): 14, 60, 116). >Intersubjectivity/Adam Smith, >Understanding/Adam Smith, >Sympathy/Adam Smith, >Recognition. 1. Smith, Adam (1982) [1759]. The Theory of Moral Sentiments. D. D. Raphael and A. L. Macfie, eds. Liberty Fund._____________Explanation of symbols: Roman numerals indicate the source, arabic numerals indicate the page number. The corresponding books are indicated on the right hand side. ((s)…): Comment by the sender of the contribution. Translations: Dictionary of Arguments The note [Concept/Author], [Author1]Vs[Author2] or [Author]Vs[term] resp. "problem:"/"solution:", "old:"/"new:" and "thesis:" is an addition from the Dictionary of Arguments. If a German edition is specified, the page numbers refer to this edition. |
EconSmith I Adam Smith The Theory of Moral Sentiments London 2010 EconSmithV I Vernon L. Smith Rationality in Economics: Constructivist and Ecological Forms Cambridge 2009 Otteson I James R. Otteson The Essential Adam Smith Vancouver: Fraser Institute. 2018 |
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