What is Adam Smith's 'impartial spectator'?

Adam Smith claims that humans naturally sympathize with others and seek their approval. The process of matching our sentiments with others' sentiments forms the basis of our moral judgment. But what do we do when sentiments conflict? read more

What Adam Smith tries to explain is an invisible hand for "impartial spectator" instituted inside our soul and mind. So that, this spectator is not a really existent person authorizing our sympathetic sentiment; however, he is an implied human psychological sate, functioning to sociability by looking for himself the most fitting place in a society. read more

The impartial spectator is a crucial part of Adam Smith’s Theory of Moral Sentiments. Smith talks about many kinds of spectators in his book. Some are in­formed, others are not. read more