Smith holds that the laws of justice are very seldom observed in war and negotiation, that ordinary wholesome virtues which earn esteem in private transactions are laughed at as folly in public transactions, and that in unjust wars it is the sovereign or rulers who are guilty while subjects are almost always perfectly innocent yet are punished as though guilty out of nationalism—an anti-nationalist, anti-governmentalization theme.

factualpending

Speaker

Dan Klein

Evidence Quote

ordinary sort of wholesome organic virtues um are are are almost spurned in public transactions. Okay, again, I see this as a kind of anti-governmentalization theme.

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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