Exploring the Adam Smith Problem: Unraveling the Paradox of Self-Interest and Sympathy

The Adam Smith Problem refers to the apparent contradiction between Adam Smith’s theory of self-interest, as articulated in “The Wealth of Nations,” and his emphasis on sympathy (or compassion) in “The Theory of Moral Sentiments.” This paper aims to explore this paradox and evaluate how these two concepts coalesce within Smith’s broader economic and moral philosophy. In “The Wealth of Nations,” Smith