Adam Smith’s Theory of Sympathy

Adam Smith’s theory of sympathy is the foundation and kernel of his thoughts of ethics.Sympathy is a kind of natural feeling or emotion that the agent should have,which arises from the inside of the spectator when he imagines himself being the agent in that situation.In accordance with propriety,this fellow-feeling make moral judgment of other people and himself,which not only leads to personal virtue but also makes the society in order and harmonious.It is based on sympathy that Smith strives to prove the rationality of an ideal picture of social market order.