# Part VII: Of Systems of Moral Philosophy explained — The Theory of Moral Sentiments

> Chapter companion for The Theory of Moral Sentiments by Adam Smith.

## What happens

Smith surveys and critiques various systems of moral philosophy, including those based on propriety, prudence, and benevolence, and discusses the corruption of moral sentiments by wealth and rank.

## Themes in this chapter

### Corruption of Moral Sentiments by Wealth and Rank

Smith critiques Mandeville's system for reducing all virtue to vanity, highlighting how the desire for praise corrupts genuine moral sentiments.

### Self-Love and the Social Order

The chapter examines systems that derive morality from self-love, such as Epicurus's, and contrasts them with sympathy-based accounts.

## Character check-ins

### Epicurus

Epicurus's system is examined as one that derives virtue from prudence and pleasure.

### Dr. Hutcheson

Hutcheson's system of moral sense and benevolence is discussed and critiqued.

### Dr. Mandeville

Mandeville's licentious system that reduces virtue to vanity is analyzed.

### Plato

Plato's system of virtue as the proper government of the soul is referenced.

### Aristotle

Aristotle's system of virtue as a mean between extremes is mentioned.

## Key lines

> The character of virtue, it was observed, must be beautiful; and the character of vice, deformed.

Virtue is inherently attractive, while vice is repulsive.

_Smith summarizes the aesthetic approach to morality found in some systems._

> According to Dr. Hutcheson, the moral sense is a distinct and independent principle of the human mind.

Hutcheson argues that we have an innate sense that directly approves of benevolence and disapproves of selfishness.

_Smith presents Hutcheson's theory of a dedicated moral sense._

> The system of Dr. Mandeville, though it had the good fortune to be attacked by many, has never been so fully confuted as it deserved.

Mandeville's theory, while widely criticized, has not been adequately refuted.

_Smith acknowledges the challenge of fully disproving Mandeville's cynical view of virtue._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_theory_of_moral_sentiments_se/chapters/part-vii-of-systems-of-moral-philosophy
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- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_theory_of_moral_sentiments_se/chapters