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The sixth edition of The Theory of Moral Sentiments is published with substantial new parts

In 1790 the sixth edition of The Theory of Moral Sentiments appeared with substantial new parts, including an enlarged treatment of duty. It is a dated late book, not the 1759 first edition and not a 1976 critical machine. In the causal graph this event strengthens Social Cohesion, a driver that strengthens Having a say in government — an improving welfare path.

Read the full account

In 1790 the sixth edition of The Theory of Moral Sentiments appeared with substantial new parts, including an enlarged treatment of duty. It is a dated late book, not the 1759 first edition and not a 1976 critical machine. Adam Smith’s documented role is: He revised TMS for a 1790 sixth edition, adding material on duty and the character of virtue. Strahan and Cadell printed; the new parts are his last moral-philosophy instrument. Later editors, printers, and excavators remain named where they appear. Adam Smith's documented role is: He revised TMS for a 1790 sixth edition, adding material on duty and the character of virtue.

Context

Smith was dying in Edinburgh. 1976 is refused as his act. The impartial-spectator row on 1759 remains a different instrument. Named others on the file: William Strahan, Thomas Cadell, and later editors share the sixth edition’s survival. The public setting is the file around 1790-01-01. Contribution type is direct. The instrument stays The sixth edition of The Theory of Moral Sentiments is published with substantial new parts. The setting of The sixth edition of The Theory of Moral Sentiments is published with substantial new parts is the public file around 1790-01-01. Contribution type is direct. Driver social-cohesion is attached because the significance names a mechanism from this act, not because a standing list needed coverage.

Later competitions, monuments, translations, UNESCO listings, museums, and adaptations are not converted into extra lifetime acts.

Why it matters

Direct on the 1790 text. Welfare reading improving. The attached mechanism is A dated late revision put an enlarged public ethics book into the year of his death, distinct from the 1759 first TMS. Lag to any modern indicator is not treated as zero. This path is attached because the mechanism is named from this act, not because a driver list needed coverage. The welfare reading on this path is improving.

Confidence is stated on the impact path, not hidden in adjectives. Mixed effects of The sixth edition of The Theory of Moral Sentiments is published with substantial new parts are separate paths.

Who was responsible

Contribution type and responsibility level for each recorded actor — not sole-author shorthand.

  • Adam Smith

    Person

    Direct responsibility

    responsibility level 0.44 · verified

    He revised TMS for a 1790 sixth edition, adding material on duty and the character of virtue. Strahan and Cadell printed; the new parts are his last moral-philosophy instrument.

What changed

Fact → Driver → Indicator. Relationship strength orders the paths; it is not the observed indicator movement.

    1. FactThe sixth edition of The Theory of Moral Sentiments is published with substantial new parts
    2. strengthensDriverSocial Cohesion
    3. strengthensIndicators (2)Having a say in government
    Improving path

    impact weight 0.4 · Effect from 1 January 1790 · verified

    A dated late revision put an enlarged public ethics book into the year of his death, distinct from the 1759 first TMS.

    • Having a say in government

      via Social Cohesion

      Better

      Strengthens · Relationship strength 0.18 (weight 0.4 × strength 0.45)

      Observed

      29.8% of population aged 16-65 years · 8.13 below the normal line (2023)

      Worse than normal

      Two readings: 30.2% of population aged 16-65 years (2021) and 29.8% of population aged 16-65 years (2023).

      20212023

      Above normal = better

    • Rule of Law Gap from the Highest Governance Score

      via Social Cohesion

      Better

      Weakens · Relationship strength 0.18 (weight 0.4 × strength 0.45)

      Observed

      43.9 Score · 43.9 above the normal line (2024)

      Worse than normal

      26 readings, 1996–2024: rose from 43 Score to 43.9 Score.

      Normal is zero · any amount = worse

Evidence

The sources behind this fact and its verification state.

Verified2 sources on file
  1. 1.The Theory of Moral Sentiments — public EnglishProject Gutenberg · High credibility · verified
  2. 2.Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy — Adam Smith’s Moral and Political PhilosophyStanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy · High credibility · verified
What the sources establish

Official: The Theory of Moral Sentiments — later public English (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/67363 (opens in a new tab); Project Gutenberg). Independent: Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy — TMS editions (https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/smith-moral-political/ (opens in a new tab); Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). The two URLs are different pages. Where the carrier is a later edition or a received narrative, that limit is stated rather than upgraded to an autograph. Official carrier: The Theory of Moral Sentiments — later public English (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/67363 (opens in a new tab); Project Gutenberg). Independent carrier: Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy — TMS editions (https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/smith-moral-political/ (opens in a new tab); Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy).

Established: 1790 sixth edition with new parts. Not established: that 1759 already contained those parts, or that Liberty Fund 1976 is this edition. Established: a sourced public record of The sixth edition of The Theory of Moral Sentiments is published with substantial new parts under 1790-01-01.

Shared responsibility is part of The sixth edition of The Theory of Moral Sentiments is published with substantial new parts. Naming Adam Smith does not delete co-authors, institutions, or later transmitters. The lag from 1790-01-01 to any measured indicator is not treated as zero. Alternative explanations — weather, other armies, later statutes, or independent cultural change — remain live where the sources do not close them.

The contribution type is direct. That reading is an impact-path choice, not a property stored on the Fact itself.

If a number is not in the two records named above, it is not supplied here.

Causal path

How this event connects to drivers and indicators in the graph.

  1. ActorAdam Smith
  2. contributed toFactThe sixth edition of The Theory of Moral Sentiments is published with substantial new parts
  3. strengthensDriverSocial Cohesion
  4. strengthensIndicatorHaving a say in government

Cite this page

Factrail. (2026). The sixth edition of The Theory of Moral Sentiments is published with substantial new parts. Factrail. https://factrail.ai/facts/asm-tms-sixth-1790

https://factrail.ai/facts/asm-tms-sixth-1790

Accessed 16 October 2026.

By the Factrail desk · Method: how we source and score · Last reviewed

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