The “Impartial spectator” by Adam Smith and the neutral criteria of opinion in social ethics Cover Image

„Bezstronny obserwator” Adama Smitha a neutralne kryteria oceny w etyce społecznej
The “Impartial spectator” by Adam Smith and the neutral criteria of opinion in social ethics

Author(s): Cezary Kalita
Subject(s): Philosophy, Philosophical Traditions, Epistemology, Ethics / Practical Philosophy, Special Branches of Philosophy, Existentialism, Analytic Philosophy, Philosophy of Science, Hermeneutics
Published by: Wydawnictwo Naukowe Uniwersytetu Szczecińskiego
Keywords: Smith; impartial spectator; impartiality; sympathy; justice; norm; ethicist; veil of ignorance; Rawls; economy; politics

Summary/Abstract: Ethical theory for Adam Smith is first of all the basic mechanism of social controls. Going out from decisions of the matter of the moral feelings, which the ‘sympathy’ states the foundation; it tries to work out the neutral criteria of ethical opinions introducing the ‘impartial spectator’ figure. Superiority of this category in relation to John Rawls ‘veil of ignorance’ depends on this, that the Smith places his philosophical theory in the strong empirical context (the kind of sociological philosophy). Social ethicist is the base to build more folded regulators of community life, or social, such as economy and politics. The neutral criteria of ethical opinions are the foundation of different derivative social workings (economy, politics).

  • Issue Year: 2016
  • Issue No: 36
  • Page Range: 93-112
  • Page Count: 20
  • Language: Polish