Abstract
Adam Smith writes of human action that:
[W]hen we are determining the degree of blame or applause which seems due 10 any action, we very frequently make use of two different standards. The first is the idea of complete propriety and perfection, which, in those difficult situations, no human conductever did, or ever can come up to; and in comparison with which the actions of all men must for ever appear blameable and imperfect. The second is the idea of that degree of proximity or distance from this complete perfection, which the actions of the greater part of men commonly arrive at. Whatever goes beyond this degree, how far soever it may be removed from absolute perfection, seems to deserve applause and whatever falls short of it, to deserve blame. (TMS, 26)
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References
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Evensky, J. (1994). The Role of Law in Adam Smith’s Moral Philosophy:Natural Jurisprudence and Utility. In: Malloy, R.P., Evensky, J. (eds) Adam Smith and the Philosophy of Law and Economics. Law and Philosophy Library, vol 20. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0748-8_13
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