The aim of this paper is to present a comparative analysis and reconstruction of the approach to social, moral, and institutional change in the theories of Adam Smith and Sophie de Grouchy. In their theories moral philosophy is inextricably linked with social thought. I also discuss the role of education and institutions in such a process. I argue that Smith's and de Grouchy's understanding of the roles of sympathy and institutions are strictly connected to the way they perceive the process of social change. Both philosophers considered people as equals and equally capable of sympathizing with others. For both of them, sympathy is a key element in reconstructing how societies change. In my opinion, both these philosophers believe that such a change can be induced: in the case of de Grouchy, this would be done primarily by legislators. In the case of Smith, respected people are capable of initiating change and are subsequently followed by others.
Artykuł podejmuje mniej znane rozważania George’a Berkeleya z zakresu myśli społecznej oraz Adama Smitha w obszarze epistemologii. Punkt wyjścia analizy stanowi omówienie podzielanych przez obu filozofów poglądów dotyczących natury postrzegania wzrokowego, w tym oceny wielkości i odległości. Wnioski na płaszczyźnie epistemologicznej doprowadziły obu myślicieli do rozważania problemów w filozofii społecznej, tj. roli bezstronnego widza, oceniającego z dystansu, oraz kwestii dobra wspólnego. Udzielane przez obu filozofów odpowiedzi w tym zakresie okazały się odmienne: dla Berkeleya altruizm i dążenie do pomyślności ogółu warunkuje szczęście jednostkowe; według Smitha do dobrobytu ogółu prowadzi realizowanie własnego interesu.
is a col lection of essays devoted to Adam Smith's philosophy and economy, reaching out to the wider context, as well as including remarks concerning modern approach to Smith's legacy. Essays collected in the Adam Smith... refer to numerous aspects of Adam Smith's philosophy. Each of the chapters has been written by a different author who has managed to include his or her own approach to the subject. As usually, such a composition of the book has its advantages and disadvantages: contributions of numerous respected scholars on the one hand allow to become familiarized with different approaches towards one author and getting to know different points of view, whereas, on the other hand, they result in a partial incon sistency of the book. The book has been divided into five sections that cover different aspects of Smith's thought and each of them seems to play its part in the book treated as a whole. The first section is composed of seven chapters devoted to Smith's biography, his Lectures on Rhetoric and Belles Lettres, The Theory of Moral Sentiments, the Lectures on Jurisprudence, Essays on Philosophical Subjects and the best known of Smith's works: the Wealth of Nations. The last chapter of this section aims to present Smith as Scottish philosopher, a member of the Scottish Enlightenment, providing a wider perspective. All these essays provide a very brief
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