The Theory of Moral Sentiments

Adam Smith's first major work, published 17 years before The Wealth of Nations. Smith argues that moral judgment arises from sympathy — our ability to imaginatively share the feelings of others — not from reason or divine command. The book establishes that human beings are fundamentally social and moral creatures, directly contradicting the caricature of Smith as a champion of pure self-interest. Understanding this work is essential to reading The Wealth of Nations accurately: Smith's economics presupposes a moral foundation that most modern readers of Wealth of Nations never encounter.