...economist Adam Smith wrote that man's nature "interests] him in the fortunes of others, and render[s] their happiness necessary to him, though he derive[s]...nothing from it except the pleasure of seeing it." In 1980, the top marginal tax rate was 70 percent. That means that every dollar at the margin that...

...wrong. In an opening passage that would challenge a Hobbes or a Bernard de Mandeville, Smith begins: nothing from it, except the pleasure of seeing it. Of this kind is pity or compassion, the emotion which we feel for the misery of others, when we either see it, or are made to conceive...

...think. Why not trie the expt. 1 John Hunter to Edward Jenner How selfish soever man may be supposed, there are evidently some principles in his nature which interest him in the fortunes of others. And render their happiness necessary to him, though he derives nothing from it...

...beings, Smith in TMS insists that there also resides within the heart of each person 'some principles ... which interest him in the fortune of others, and render their happiness necessary for him, though he derives nothing from it except the pleasure of seeing it.'59 Whereas for Hobbes...

...great work, The Theory of Moral Sentiments, Smith also said, "How selfish soever man may be supposed, there are evidently some principles in his nature, which interest him in the fortunes of others."6 In other words, Smith took a more rounded view of human behavior, one that acknowledged...

...Reason knows nothing about. — Blaise Pascal, Pensees (1670) How selfish soever man may be supposed, there are evidently some principles in his nature, which interest him in the fortunes of others, and render their happiness necessary to him, though he derives nothing from it,...

...may be supposed, there are certainly some principles in his nature which interest him in the fortunes of others, and render their happiness necessary to him, though he derives nothing except the pleasure of seeing it." Later in the book he adds, "The chief part of human happiness arises...

...(University of Texas Press, Austin, 1976). 51. Matthews, K.-A., Batson, CD, Horn, J. & Rosenman, R.-H. Principles in his nature which interest him in the fortune of others: The heritability of empathic concern for others. Journal of Personality 49, 237-247 (1981). 52. Zahn-...

...(University of Texas Press, Austin, 1976). 51. Matthews, K.-A., Batson, CD, Horn, J. & Rosenman, R.-H. Principles in his nature which interest him in the fortune of others: The heritability of empathic concern for others. Journal of Personality 49, 237-247 (1981). 52. Zahn-Waxler,...

...our behaviour. Indeed, the opening paragraph in TMS reads: How selfish soever man may be supposed, there are evidently some principles in his nature,...of seeing it. Of this kind is pity or compassion, the emotion we feel for the misery of others ... Smith is not an economist who defends or advocates...