Autore
Bevilacqua, Emiliano

Titolo
The government of sentiments in Adam Smith. A sociological reading
Periodico
Rassegna italiana di sociologia
Anno: 2020 - Fascicolo: 3 - Pagina iniziale: 509 - Pagina finale: 535

This essay shows how Adam Smith’s sociology develops in two directions:on the one hand, the recognition and enhancement of the roleplayed by personal feelings in the formation of society, and, on theother, the analysis of a social dynamic capable of constraining theirintensity. The discussion of the categories of propriety and appearanceof utility presented in The Theory of Moral Sentiments will address thecentrality of the government of sentiments in Smith’s thought and, atthe same time, will describe its significance and ambivalence. Thesecategories enable an understanding of how Adam Smith’s sociologyworks on the subject with the aim of promoting a well-functioningmarket society. Since selfishness is one of the sentiments that characterisehuman nature, the Smithian writings also help to deepen therelationship between subjectivity and economy. This approach allowsthe emergence of a sociology which sees the immanence of daily lifeas a field where a kind of anthropology that may be attuned to themarket can be shaped. The Foucauldian interpretation of the ScottishEnlightenment is helpful in emphasizing the relevance of Smith’s thought,which seems to offer interesting insights for a current understandingof the social relations in a market society.



SICI: 0486-0349(2020)3<509:TGOSIA>2.0.ZU;2-O
Testo completo: https://www.rivisteweb.it/download/article/10.1423/98559
Testo completo alternativo: https://www.rivisteweb.it/doi/10.1423/98559

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