Smith's organizing principle (organon) throughout The Theory of Moral Sentiments is that moral judgment is always enshrouded in some kind of spectatorial sympathy, and he applies this consistently, even inventing a spectator to be sympathized with where necessary to provide that enshrouding.

definitionpending

Speaker

Dan Klein

Evidence Quote

Moral judgment is always enshrouded in some kind of spectatorial sympathy. Okay? And wherever necessary, he will make that work, even if it means kind of inventing the spectator with whom you're sympathizing

Source

Dan Klein on The Theory of Moral Sentiments, Episode 4--A Discussion of Part III 04/29/2009EconTalk
Created: 6/15/2026, 9:36:51 AM

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