ABSTRACT
In addition to the sympathy mechanism, there exists in the Theory of Moral Sentiments a second normative principle for organising human values and behaviour. In certain instances, it even dominates the sympathy mechanism. Given that this principle is structured around a hierarchical relationship with an authority whose precise nature remains to be determined, one may qualify it as a ‘vertical’ principle in opposition to the ‘horizontal’ sympathy mechanism. It appears only at the end of the first third of the book, following the extensive presentation of the sympathy mechanism. Then, however, it appears in a dizzying succession of different incarnations. The neutral expression of a ‘vertical principle’ was also chosen to highlight the dangers of a premature identification or sentimentalisation of an entity for which Adam Smith himself has great difficulty in finding a definitive name. In the secondary literature, the term ‘impartial spectator’ has established itself as a common reference for this vertical principle. We shall adhere to this custom in the following in order to facilitate the reader’s task. However, one needs to be ever mindful that the term ‘impartial spectator’ is just one of a multitude of designations, and perhaps not even the most representative one, that Adam Smith employs in The Theory of Moral Sentiments in order to refer to this vertical principle. Below we reproduce a selection of the expressions used by Adam
Smith to designate the authority from which emanates the normative rules of the vertical dimension. The diversity of these expressions and the breadth of meaning they cover indicate, both, the difficulty to seize
precisely the focal point of this vertical principle and the intensity of the effort to arrive there nevertheless:
‘The spectator the impartial spectator the fair and impartial spectator the supposed impartial and well-informed spectator the abstract and ideal spectator of our sentiments and conduct the Author the Author of nature the great Director of Nature the great Judge of hearts the great judge and arbiter the supreme judge the tribunal of conscience this great tribunal the tribunal established in their breasts the man within the breast the demigod within the breast the man within the judge within the great inmate this inmate of the breast the inhabitant of the breast the great demigod within the breast those viceregents of God within us reason, principle, conscience this abstract man the Deity the substitute of the Deity the great arbiter of conduct this supreme arbiter of conduct the great arbiter and judge of conduct God the Lord our God that divine Being a divine artist that great, benevolent, and all-wise Being the great Director of the Universe the great Superintendent of the universe the all-seeing Judge of the world, whose eyes can never be deceived, and whose judgement can never be perverted.’
