Sample Essay

Welcome!

This a sample essay from the book Trust, Interviews about a Hidden Force. It was previously published on libertarianism.org.

Radical Trust

Adam Smith’s The Theory of Moral Sentiments, published in 1759, lays the foundation for his broader ideas on ethics, social behavior, and human interaction. It is a work that addresses the nature of morality, examining how individuals form moral judgments and interact in society. At its heart, the theory explores the role of sympathy—our ability to empathize with others—as the basis for moral judgments. Sympathy allows us to imagine ourselves in others’ situations and, in doing so, judge their actions and feelings.

Sympathy and Moral Judgment

Smith argues that humans are naturally inclined to care about others’ experiences and emotions through sympathy. This sympathy forms the bedrock of our moral judgments. According to Smith, when we observe someone’s actions or feelings, we assess them by imagining how we would feel in their place. This imagined “impartial spectator” becomes a guide for evaluating what is right or wrong.

Smith’s concept of morality is rooted in the idea that human behavior is shaped by the desire for mutual sympathy of sentiments—meaning that people strive for their feelings and actions to align with those of others. Through this process, social norms and moral standards are formed.

Trust is Love in Smith’s Moral Framework

In The Theory of Moral Sentiments, love and trust are intimately connected through the shared mechanism of sympathy. Love fosters trust by creating relationships of mutual care, where individuals can rely on each other’s benevolence and moral commitments. Trust, in turn, strengthens love by ensuring that individuals feel secure in their emotional bonds. Whether in personal relationships or in society at large, Smith’s moral theory shows how both love and trust are essential for creating harmonious and cooperative human interactions, grounded in empathy, reciprocity, and a shared commitment to well-being.

This may seem strange to us now, but when Adam Smith uses love, it is not necessarily what we celebrate on Saint Valentine’s Day. When it comes to love, Smith’s approach intertwines it with the broader concept of sympathy. Love, for Smith, is not purely a romantic or passionate emotion; it is deeply embedded in the social fabric of human relationships. Love involves both sympathy and benevolence—caring for others and desiring their well-being.

Most famously, Smith says we all want to love and be loved, but we also want to be lovely. That is an even odder idea for a philosopher who is better known for advocating free trade.

But ‘lovely’ here means something like ‘worthy of love’. This intersects nicely with trust. I want to be trust people and be trusted by them, but I also want to be trustworthy.

Smith differentiates between different types of love. Familial love, for instance, has a natural basis due to blood relations and proximity, but it is still governed by the same principles of mutual sympathy and moral expectations. Romantic love, meanwhile, involves both sympathy and a desire for the admiration and affection of the beloved. In both cases, the person who loves seeks to align their feelings and actions with the object of their affection, aiming for mutual harmony.

The Role of Love in Society

Love, for Smith, extends beyond personal relationships. In a broader sense, love can be understood as part of the benevolence that individuals feel toward society as a whole. Just as we seek the approval and admiration of those we care about, we also desire the approval of the wider community. This desire to be loved and to love others creates a reciprocal bond that maintains social harmony.

Smith highlights the idea that love in its various forms contributes to moral behavior because it motivates individuals to act with kindness, generosity, and a sense of duty. It connects personal virtue with social expectations, as individuals guided by love will naturally act in ways that uphold the moral norms of their communities. This role of love in society, it is what I would call “trust”.

Trust in Social Relationships and Communities

This broader love creates a kind of social trust. Smith believed that in society, individuals are motivated by a desire to be loved and approved by others, which encourages them to act in ways that are socially responsible and trustworthy.

Trust in society is therefore deeply connected to the benevolent love individuals feel toward their communities. People trust others—whether neighbors, colleagues, or institutions—because they assume that shared sympathy and moral standards will guide behavior. If individuals or institutions fail to act in ways that reflect these moral sentiments, trust is broken. Conversely, when individuals demonstrate care for the well-being of others (the love for society), they help build trust within that social fabric.

Love, Trust, and the Role of Self-Interest

Smith’s framework also acknowledges that love and trust are moderated by self-interest. However, self-interest in The Theory of Moral Sentiments is not purely selfish. It is tempered by sympathy and concern for others, which in turn fosters trust. For example, an individual might act out of self-love (seeking their own happiness) but is still guided by sympathy for

others and a desire for their approval. This balance creates a dynamic where people act in trustworthy ways, knowing that their own well-being is connected to the trust and love others have for them.

In this sense, trust is grounded in the reciprocal nature of love and self-interest. People are trustworthy not only because they care for others but also because they recognize that maintaining trust is beneficial to their own moral and social standing.