The Theory of Moral Sentiments · Chapter
Of the Extent of This Influence of Fortune explained
This chapter examines how fortune influences our moral judgments, specifically in two ways: first, it diminishes our sense of merit or demerit when actions fail to produce their intended effects, and second, it increases our sense of merit
What happens
This chapter examines how fortune influences our moral judgments, specifically in two ways: first, it diminishes our sense of merit or demerit when actions fail to produce their intended effects, and second, it increases our sense of merit or demerit when actions accidentally cause extraordinary pleasure or pain. Smith discusses how even the impartial spectator feels this irregularity, and explores examples such as the difference in gratitude toward a friend who fails versus one who succeeds, the treatment of messengers of good or bad news, and legal distinctions of negligence.
Themes in this chapter
The Impartial Spectator
Smith discusses how the irregularity of sentiment due to fortune is felt even by the impartial spectator, who judges merit and demerit based on outcomes as well as intentions.
Justice as the Pillar of Society vs. Beneficence as Ornament
The chapter explores how gross negligence is seen as real injustice, undermining the basis of justice and society, and how legal systems punish such negligence severely when harm results.
Characters to notice
- Tigranes
King of Armenia who struck off the head of the man who brought him the first account of the approach of a formidable enemy, illustrating the transitory resentment toward the author of bad news.
Key passages
“The effect of this influence of fortune is, first, to diminish our sense of the merit or demerit of those actions which arose from the most laudable or blamable intentions, when they fail of producing their proposed effects: and, secondly, to increase our sense of the merit or demerit of actions, beyond what is due to the motives or affections from which they proceed, when they accidentally give occasion either to extraordinary pleasure or pain.”
Fortune affects moral judgment in two ways: it reduces how much merit or demerit we assign to actions with good or bad intentions if they don't achieve their goals, and it inflates our sense of merit or demerit when actions accidentally cause great pleasure or pain, beyond what the motives alone would warrant.
This is the central thesis of the chapter, outlining the two main effects of fortune on moral sentiments.
“It is common indeed to say, that we are equally obliged to the man who has endeavoured to serve, as to him who actually did so. It is the speech which we constantly make upon every unsuccessful attempt of this kind; but which, like all other fine speeches, must be understood with a grain of allowance.”
People often claim they are just as grateful to someone who tried to help but failed as to someone who succeeded, but this polite statement is not entirely sincere and should be taken with some reservation.
Smith highlights the gap between conventional expressions of gratitude and actual feelings, showing how outcomes influence our true sentiments.
“Gross negligence therefore is, in the law, said to be almost equal to malicious design ( Lata culpa prope dolum est ). When any unlucky consequences happen from such carelessness, the person who has been guilty of it, is often punished as if he had really intended those consequences.”
In law, gross negligence is considered nearly equivalent to intentional wrongdoing, and if harm results from such carelessness, the offender is often punished as if they had meant to cause that harm.
Smith connects legal principles to moral sentiments, showing how the actual consequences of an action can lead to punishment far beyond what the original intent would suggest.