Adam Smith's Concept of Sympathy in the Meaning of Ethical Education

In his important work, The Theory of Moral Sentiments, Adam Smith saw the concept of sympathy as the foundation of identity in terms of social behaviors and also an important index of moral judgment. During the development of ethics in the past, the cognitive system of norms was more important than the discussion about moral sentiments. From the perspective of Smith's concept of sympathy, this article is meant to explore whether reinforcing moral sentiments is a more viable way to solve the problems with moral education nowadays. Therefore, the inquiry proceeds along three parts: first, whether the moral ideas applied to inquire into the problems with moral education could better resolve the current moral dilemma; second, stating how Smith explained the concept of "sympathy;" and finally, contemplating if the moral ideas founded on the concept of sympathy could better resolve the current moral dilemma.