I am currently reading “The Theory of Moral Sentiments” by Adam Smith and listening to a series of Podcasts via EconTalk with Russ Roberts and Daniel Klien at George Mason University.

The Theory of Moral Sentiments provides a background on the moral foundations further elaborated within “The Wealth of Nations.”

In Episode II of this set of Podcasts Klein and Roberts discussed two types of virtues Smith elaborates on (1) the amiable (gentle, indulgent, and compassionate) and the (2) the respectable (self-denial, self-government, dignity, and honor).

Klein thought of this as a spiral where there is the disintegration of the self (need for compassion compassion, internal multiplicities, and conflict) and then the bottom of the spiral there is a re-integration where the different feelings and conflicts are integrated into a person.

To elaborate further, this isn’t a one-way street, there is a movement down the spiral while you feel more conflict and multiplicity and then back up the spiral as you are either forced to change or need become sick of being so controlled (so stable and fully integrated).

I found this very interesting as I think most people feel different pulls and then integrate and then feel different pulls and then integrate again. Klein and Roberts then go into how this dance of the two virtues outlined by Smith increase our ability to be socially connected with each other.

Good Stuff.

Klein on The Theory of Moral Sentiments, Episode 2–A Discussion of Part I | EconTalk | Library of Economics and Liberty.

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