Author's Keywords: Adam Smith, Theory of Moral Sentiments, Liberalism, Virtue, human nature, benevolence, prudence, justice, self-command	Convention All Academic Convention can solve the abstract management needs for any association's annual meeting. Submission - Custom fields, multiple submission types, tracks, audio visual, multiple upload formats, automatic conversion to pdf. Review - Peer Review, Bulk reviewer assignment, bulk emails, ranking, z-score statistics, and multiple worksheets! Reports - Many standard and custom reports generated while you wait. Print programs with participant indexes, event grids, and more! Scheduling - Flexible and convenient grid scheduling within rooms and buildings. Conflict checking and advanced filtering. Communication - Bulk email tools to help your administrators send reminders and responses. Use form letters, a message center, and much more! Management - Search tools, duplicate people management, editing tools, submission transfers, many tools to manage a variety of conference management headaches! Click here for more information.
Association: Name: American Political Science Association URL: http://www.apsanet.org
Citation: URL: http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p150536_index.html Direct Link: HTML Code:

Harpham, Edward. "On the Passions and Virtue: Rethinking Smith on the Individual" Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, Marriott, Loews Philadelphia, and the Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, PA, Aug 31, 2006 <Not Available>. 2011-03-13 <http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p150536_index.html>

Harpham, E. J. , 2006-08-31 "On the Passions and Virtue: Rethinking Smith on the Individual" Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association, Marriott, Loews Philadelphia, and the Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, PA Online <PDF>. 2011-03-13 from http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p150536_index.html

Publication Type: Proceeding Abstract: Liberalism is often criticized for championing a thin theory human nature. Seeking a common ground from which to think about such issues as individual rights and autonomy, rule of law, constitutionalism, limited government, free markets, and toleration, liberals often ground their theory in a minimalist set of assumptions about human nature. Although a thin theory of human nature may lie at the heart of much liberal theory, a few prominent theorists in the liberal tradition reject a thin theory of human nature, offering in its place a robust or thick theory of the individual as the foundation for understanding how people relate together in society and for thinking about politics. Thick theories focus on the particularism and complexity that define individuals and their relationships to others in political society. Their understanding and defense of liberal institutions and values are derived directly from these thick theories of the nature of the individual in society. Such is the case of Adam Smith. In this paper I will explore the view of human nature that emerges from Smith’s theory of moral judgment. I focus on Part VI of The Theory of Moral Sentiments because it contains some Smith’s deepest insights into human nature and is where he presents his thick theory of the individual in its most straightforward fashion. The title of Part VI of The Theory of Moral Sentiments, “Of the Character of Virtue,” is a little misleading. Given the title, one might expect an analysis of the nature of virtue or an account of the various virtues that are found in the world. But Smith’s purpose in Part VI goes beyond this. He discusses the factors that make up the character of individuals and the processes by which individuals in society are naturally driven to virtue. Virtue is not limited to one or two traits dominating an individual’s character, but naturally evolves from the complex web of forces that make up an individual and compel him or her to act in the world. An analysis of virtue demands an understanding of these forces as well as an explanation of how these forces are socialized through the moral sentiments.

Adam Smith on Duty: Part III of The Theory of Moral Sentiments

Those Whining and Melancholy Moralists: Adam Smith's Problem of Sentimental Self-Command

Meaning in Individual Action and International Political Theory (IPT): Human Nature and the Inescapability of Basic Needs