My Understanding of Adam Smith's Impartial Spectator

Jack Russell Weinstein

Econ Journal Watch, 2016, vol. 13, issue 2, 351–358

Abstract: I provide an overview of Adam Smith’s impartial spectator with special attention to the limitations of the human imagination. I argue that the impartial spectator is not Archimedean, but is as epistemologically limited as its imaginer. I ask whether the imagination as Smith conceived it can overcome cultural boundaries, underscoring my claim elsewhere that Smith anticipated identity politics. I conclude by showing how the impartial spectator connects Smith’s ethics and economics and make a plea for its continuing value.

Keywords: Adam Smith; Theory of Moral Sentiments; impartial spectator; philosophy; imagination; John Rawls; Archimedean point; moral psychology; conscience; Scottish Enlightenment; objectivity; identity politics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: A13 B12 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ejw:journl:v:13:y:2016:i:2:p:351-358

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