https://tankie.tube/videos/watch/493f8a0f-4934-495d-aea7-9c81715b1545 Adam Smith’s ideas about self-interest should be understood as a precursor in some ways to John Stuart Mill’s thinking on utilitarianism. Professor Szelényi discusses, but does not resolve, the complexities of Adam Smith’s moral and ethical positions staked out in The Theory of Moral Sentiments – including a focus on sympathy – and the most widespread economic interpretation of Smith and The Wealth of Nations that he is the economist of self-interest. One way to reconcile these so-called “two Smiths” is that, as social beings, it is in our self-interest to express benevolence and sympathy toward others. Mill, the student of Bentham since a very young age, humanizes the theory of utilitarianism. Perhaps he should be best remembered for his staunch views on liberty: liberty must never be compromised for the sake of expediency. Readings Mill, Utilitarianism, On Liberty Chapter 1, pp. 69-83, Chapter 2, “What is utilitarianism,” pp. 6-27, Chapter 4, pp.143-162, Chapter 5, “Of the connection between Justice and Utility,” pp. 43-67, Mill, The Subjection of Women Thu, 09 Apr 2026 08:54:53 GMT https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html PeerTube - https://tankie.tube https://tankie.tube/lazy-static/avatars/3ba3ff73-a8b6-49c9-add8-9653ef090c7f.webp https://tankie.tube/videos/watch/493f8a0f-4934-495d-aea7-9c81715b1545 All rights reserved, unless otherwise specified in the terms specified at https://tankie.tube/about and potential licenses granted by each content's rightholder.