Self-Deceit and Moral Philosophy

This paper explores the role of moral philosophers in answering concrete moral conundrums. It proposes that the very stance we take up when we do moral philosophy — the theoretical، disengaged stance — encourages us in our tendency to self-deception rather than leading us honestly to confront the emotional obstacles that، often، block us from decent action. The proposal is defended by way of the astute account of self-deceit، and of the failings of moral philosophy، in Adam Smith’s Theory of Moral Sentiments.