# Dr. Hutcheson — The Theory of Moral Sentiments character guide

> Dr. Hutcheson in The Theory of Moral Sentiments by Adam Smith.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** the late Dr. Hutcheson

**First appearance:** 0066-iii-of-those-systems-which-make-virtue-consist-in-benevolence

## Who they are

Philosopher who made virtue consist in benevolence.

## 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)

Referenced as a prior moral philosopher whose views on moral sense are contrasted with Smith's sympathy-based system.

### [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)

Cited for his views on moral sense and the distinction between approbation and self-interest.

### [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)

Cited for his view that moral approval arises from a distinct moral sense.

### [Section II: Of Justice and Beneficence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_theory_of_moral_sentiments_se/chapters/section-ii-of-justice-and-beneficence)

Mentioned in relation to the moral sense and the foundation of justice.

### [Part VII: Of Systems of Moral Philosophy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_theory_of_moral_sentiments_se/chapters/part-vii-of-systems-of-moral-philosophy)

Hutcheson's system of moral sense and benevolence is discussed and critiqued.

### [Section I: Of the Questions Which Ought to Be Examined in a Theory of Moral Sentiments](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_theory_of_moral_sentiments_se/chapters/section-i-of-the-questions-which-ought-to-be-examined-in-a-theory-of-moral-sentiments)

Cited as an example of a philosopher who locates virtue in benevolence.

### [Of Those Systems Which Make Virtue Consist in Benevolence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_theory_of_moral_sentiments_se/chapters/iii-of-those-systems-which-make-virtue-consist-in-benevolence)

Presented as the chief proponent of the system that virtue consists in pure and disinterested benevolence, arguing that any selfish motive diminishes merit.

### [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)

Praised as the first to clearly distinguish that moral distinctions arise from immediate sense and feeling, not reason alone.

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

Smith discusses Hutcheson's theory of a moral sense as a reflex internal sense, distinct from self-love and reason, and critiques its implications.

### [Endnotes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_theory_of_moral_sentiments_se/chapters/endnotes)

Referenced in footnotes to the Inquiry Concerning Virtue and Illustrations on the Moral Sense.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_theory_of_moral_sentiments_se/characters/hutcheson
- 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