The Ethics and Economics of Middle Class Romance

Abstract This article shows the philosophical kinship between Adam Smith and Mary Wollstonecraft on subject of love. Though two major 18th century thinkers are not traditionally brought into conversation with each other, share deep moral concerns about emerging commercial society. As new middle class continues to grow along commerce, vanity becomes an ever more common vice among its members. But a vain person is preoccupied appearance, status, flattery—things that get in way what regard as human connection they variously describe love, sympathy, esteem. Commercial society encourages inequality, argues, points out this inequality particularly obvious relationships men women. Men their wealth, power status; women appearance. Added fact most both uneducated encouraged by conduct literature day be sentimental irrational. The combined economic considerations show there very little room for love conceived it.