# Socrates — The Theory of Moral Sentiments character guide

> Socrates in The Theory of Moral Sentiments by Adam Smith.

**Role:** minor

**First appearance:** 0064-i-of-those-systems-which-make-virtue-consist-in-propriety

## Who they are

Athenian philosopher cited on virtue and moral inquiry.

## Relationships

### [Alexander the Great](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_theory_of_moral_sentiments_se/characters/alexander_the_great)

_psychological_

Alexander is presented as a contrast to Socrates' philosophical self-command.

## In the story

### [I: That Though Our Sympathy with Sorrow Is Generally a More Lively Sensation Than Our Sympathy with Joy, It Commonly Falls Much More Short of the Violence of What Is Naturally Felt by the Person Principally Concerned](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_theory_of_moral_sentiments_se/chapters/i-that-though-our-sympathy-with-sorrow-is-generally-a-more-lively-sensation-than-our-sympathy-with-joy-it-commonly-falls-much-more-short-of-the-violence-of-what-is-naturally-felt-by-the-person-principally-concerned)

Referenced for his cheerful tranquillity while drinking the poison, contrasting with his weeping friends.

### [III: Of the Final Cause of This Irregularity of Sentiments](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_theory_of_moral_sentiments_se/chapters/iii-of-the-final-cause-of-this-irregularity-of-sentiments)

Referenced indirectly through the dramatic examples of Oedipus and Jocasta, which are drawn from Greek tragedy, a context familiar to Socrates.

### [Part III: Of the Foundation of Our Judgments Concerning Our Own Sentiments and Conduct, and of the Sense of Duty](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_theory_of_moral_sentiments_se/chapters/part-iii-of-the-foundation-of-our-judgments-concerning-our-own-sentiments-and-conduct-and-of-the-sense-of-duty)

Mentioned as an exemplar of moral reasoning and self-examination.

### [Section I: Of the Character of the Individual, So Far as It Affects His Own Happiness; or of Prudence](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_theory_of_moral_sentiments_se/chapters/section-i-of-the-character-of-the-individual-so-far-as-it-affects-his-own-happiness-or-of-prudence)

Mentioned as an example of a man of splendid talents who displayed improper contempt for ordinary decorums.

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

Quoted for his argument that the surest way to acquire a good reputation is to actually become virtuous, illustrating the prudential aspect of virtue.

## Links

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