The influence of Hume’s theory of passions in Adam Smith’s account of moral judgment

Abstract

The analysis of the irregular moral sentiments that Smith describes in TMS II.iii evidences the enormous influence of David Hume’s theory of passions in the moral theory of his successor, as well as the critical differences between these Scottish philosophers’ moral proposals. Moreover, these atypical situations also allow us to grasp the different parts of Smithian moral judgment, and to exclude – despite Smith’s assertion – the influence of moral luck on these judgments.

Keywords: Adam Smith, David Hume, moral judgment, passions, moral luck.