The Introduction of Adam Smith’s Moral Philosophy to French Thought

Abstract

To trace the influence of Adam Smith on French thought, it is natural that we should begin with his travels in France from January 1764 to November 1766. We might remember that the first French translation of the Moral Sentiments appeared in 1764, just a year before his arrival in Paris. Through his travels, Smith’s reputation as a moral philosopher became better known to the philosophers of France. As John Rae related in his account, the Life of Adam Smith, Smith’s theory of sympathy created a sensation during his stay in France, and many began to compete in a new attempt to translate his excellent work.’¹ Abbé Blavet’s translation, which was published in 1774, is one such example.