ABSTRACT
This chapter shows that Kant and Smith each adopt a conception of virtue that affords a central role to self-control, and that this role consists in overcoming the passions and keeping the inclinations within their proper bounds. It demonstrates that Kant, like Smith, admits that commercial society presents challenges for virtue, so understood. The chapter also shows that Kant again, like Smith, nevertheless advocates extending, rather than curtailing, commercial institutions. It describes that Kant and Smith shared a similar understanding of the problems generated by commercial society, and will position us to see how Kant may have viewed his conception of politics as responsive. Kant's central concern with external freedom is consistent with the importance he places upon virtue because, as human beings, we always have two grounds of action: the pursuit of happiness and the Moral Law.
