# Mr. Hobbes — The Theory of Moral Sentiments character guide

> Mr. Hobbes in The Theory of Moral Sentiments by Adam Smith.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0070-i-of-those-systems-which-deduce-the-principle-of-approbation-from-self-love

## Who they are

Philosopher who derived moral approbation from self-love.

## In the story

### [The Theory of Moral Sentiments](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_theory_of_moral_sentiments_se/chapters/the-theory-of-moral-sentiments)

Mentioned in the context of self-love theories that Smith critiques, arguing that sympathy is not reducible to self-interest.

### [Part I: Of the Propriety of Action](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_theory_of_moral_sentiments_se/chapters/part-i-of-the-propriety-of-action)

Mentioned in relation to theories of self-interest and the foundation of moral sentiments.

### [Section I: Of the Sense of Propriety](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_theory_of_moral_sentiments_se/chapters/section-i-of-the-sense-of-propriety)

Referenced for his system that reduces moral sentiments to self-love.

### [Of Those Systems Which Deduce the Principle of Approbation from Self-Love](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_theory_of_moral_sentiments_se/chapters/i-of-those-systems-which-deduce-the-principle-of-approbation-from-self-love)

Cited as a proponent of the system that derives approbation from self-love, arguing man enters society for self-preservation.

### [Of Those Systems Which Make Reason the Principle of Approbation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_theory_of_moral_sentiments_se/chapters/ii-of-those-systems-which-make-reason-the-principle-of-approbation)

His doctrine that a state of nature is a state of war and that civil law is the sole standard of right and wrong is discussed and refuted.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_theory_of_moral_sentiments_se/characters/hobbes
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_theory_of_moral_sentiments_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_theory_of_moral_sentiments_se/characters