The Theory of Moral Sentiments (First Edition): Free Audiobook and Listening Guide

The Theory of Moral Sentiments (First Edition), credited to Adam Smith, is available as a LibriVox volunteer audiobook. This guide identifies the recording, its source summary and its audio tracks.

About the work

The LibriVox catalogue summary, preserved with the recording, reads:

Librivox recording of The Theory of Moral Sentiments (First Edition) by Adam Smith. Read by LIbriVox Volunteers. "How selfish soever man may be supposed, there are evidently some principles in his nature, which interest him in the fortunes of others, and render their happiness necessary to him, though he derives nothing from it, except the pleasure of seeing it." (from The Theory of Moral Sentiments) Adam Smith considered his first major book, The Theory of Moral Sentiments, his most important work. Indeed, the tome was a wild success upon its publication, selling out immediately. It has not lost popularity since. In this legendary work, Smith discusses the nature of morality, and the motives behind and origins of these "sentiments." Originally published in 1759, this work provides the philosophical underpinnings for his later works, as well as elucidating the psychological and moral foundations of the workings of a complex society. Smith parses many important concepts in this book, with the central questions perhaps being: Where do our moral principles come from? Are they devine and inborn, reflection of man-made laws, or rational, based on their usefulness to society? Smith's answers to these questions and more, and his explanation of how such sentiments, however derived, influence society's self-coordination, have interested lay and scholar alike for hundreds of years. (summary written by Nikki Sullivan)

Recording facts

• Recording title: The Theory of Moral Sentiments (First Edition)
• Author credits: Adam Smith
• Language: English
• Original MP3 tracks: 31
• Listed recording duration: 12:44:19

Catalogue topics

• philosophy
• psychology
• morality
• society

Opening tracks: first 24 of 31

1. 01 - Part I, Section I: Chapters I - III — 35:06
2. 02 - Part I, Section I: Chapters IV - V — 23:40
3. 03 - Part I, Section II: Intro - Chapter II — 24:53
4. 04 - Part I, Section II: Chapter III - V — 30:33
5. 05 - Part I, Section III: Chapter I — 18:24
6. 06 - Part I, Section III: Chapter II — 28:49
7. 07 - Part I, Section III: Chapter III — 12:37
8. 08 - Part II, Section I: Intro - Chapter V — 27:06
9. 09 - Part II, Section II: Chapter I - II — 25:12
10. 10 - Part II, Section II: Chapter III — 25:04
11. 11 - Part II, Sectio n III: Intro - Chapter I — 13:01
12. 12 - Part II, Section III: Chapter II — 21:36
13. 13 - Part II, Section III: Chapter III - Notes — 21:57
14. 14 - Part III: Chapter I - Chapter IIa — 30:51
15. 15 - Part III: Chapter IIb — 27:22
16. 16 - Part III: Chapter IIIa — 38:16
17. 17 - Part III: Chapter IIIb — 27:28
18. 18 - Part III: Chapter IV — 14:14
19. 19 - Part III: Chapter V — 28:39
20. 20 - Part III: Chapter VI — 24:21
21. 21 - Part IV: Chapter I — 23:43
22. 22 - Part IV: Chapter II — 19:49
23. 23 - Part V: Chapter I — 18:00
24. 24 - Part V: Chapter II — 34:04

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Source and rights

This is a record from LibriVox's official Internet Archive collection, with a public-domain licence recorded in its metadata. LibriVox's policy includes its catalogue summaries as well as its recordings. Its public-domain assessment follows United States law; copyright status can differ elsewhere. The summary and track facts are reproduced and reformatted from that record. Dates attached to the archive upload are not treated as original book publication dates.