Date of Award
5-14-2021
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Philosophy
First Advisor
Eric Wilson
Second Advisor
Christie Hartley
Abstract
In The Theory of Moral Sentiments (TMS), Adam Smith offers an account of moral judgment centered around impartial spectatorship and the human conscience. For Smith, it is our consciences (in the form of imaginary impartial spectators) that we turn to when making moral judgments. However, some philosophers argue that our consciences make for poor judges of morality. Our consciences are shaped by socialization, and insofar as we socialize with biased and prejudiced people, our consciences may be similarly biased and prejudiced. I will argue that Smith’s account of the human conscience is not nearly as vulnerable to this problem as one might initially think. Because our consciences are influenced by socialization—including socialization with outsiders—we can revise our moral judgments in ways that allow us to overcome our parochial biases and prejudices.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.57709/22671988
Recommended Citation
Richardson, Aaron D., "Adam Smith and the Problem of Parochialism: Can the Impartial Spectator Engage in Social Critique?." Thesis, Georgia State University, 2021.
doi: https://doi.org/10.57709/22671988
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