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When I endeavour to examine my own conduct, when I endeavour to pass sentence upon it, and either to approve or condemn it, it is evident that, in all such cases, I divide myself, as it were, into two persons; … Continue reading →

Nota bene: a Rube Goldberg machine is an elaborate chain-reaction-type contraption intentionally designed to perform a simple task in a comically overcomplicated way.  I concluded my previous post by asking whether the man within the breast and the impartial spectator … Continue reading →

As I mentioned earlier this month, my colleagues Daniel Klein, Nicholas Swanson, and Jeffrey Young (KSY) have published a new paper in Econ Journal Watch, and their paper caught my attention because it’s about the impartial spectator in Adam Smith’s … Continue reading →

One of Adam Smith’s most original ideas in The Theory of Moral Sentiments (TMS) is the “impartial spectator”, but who (or what) is this perplexing and puzzling observer? Thus far, we have seen how the Scottish philosopher refers to this … Continue reading →

Correction (10/22): Based on the textual analysis of TMS in my 22 October blog post, I have to update my 21 October post below. To the point, I now see that Adam Smith is using the same set of metaphors … Continue reading →

One of Adam Smith’s most original — and mysterious — ideas in The Theory of Moral Sentiments (TMS) is the impartial spectator. But who or what is this enigmatic entity? My interpretation is based on the actual text of Smith’s … Continue reading →

Last month (September 2025), my colleagues Daniel Klein, Nicholas Swanson, and Jeffrey Young (KSY) published a new paper on Adam Smith’s impartial spectator in the most recent issue of Econ Journal Watch. In summary, KSY claim that Smith’s imaginary spectator … Continue reading →

Nota bene: this is my last blog post (for now) on “the paradox of politics”. In my previous post, we saw James Madison’s ingenious solution to the problem of factions and the tyranny of public opinion: more factions, more opinions … Continue reading →