《道德情操论·卷四·论效用对赞同感的作用·二·论效用的外观赋予品格与行为的美》第7节
It is to be observed, that so far as the sentiment of approbation arises from the perception of this beauty of utility, it has no reference of any kind to the sentiments of others. If it was possible, therefore, that a person should grow up to manhood without any communication with society, his own actions might, notwithstanding, be agreeable or disagreeable to him on account of their tendency to his happiness or disadvantage. He might perceive a beauty of this kind in prudence, temperance, and good conduct, and a deformity in the opposite behaviour: he might view his own temper and character with that sort of satisfaction with which we consider a well-contrived machine, in the one case: or with that sort of distaste and dissatisfaction with which we regard a very awkward and clumsy contrivance, in the other. As these perceptions, however, are merely a matter of taste, and have all the feebleness and delicacy of that species of perceptions, upon the justness of which what is properly called taste is founded, they probably would not be much attended to by one in his solitary and miserable condition. Even though they should occur to him, they would by no means have the same effect upon him, antecedent to his connexion with society, which they would have in consequence of that connexion. He {171} would not be cast down with inward shame at the thought of this deformity; nor would he be elevated with secret triumph of mind from the consciousness of the contrary beauty. He would not exult from the notion of deserving reward in the one case, nor tremble from the suspicion of meriting punishment in the other. All such sentiments suppose the idea of some other being, who is the natural judge of the person that feels them; and it is only by sympathy with the decisions of this arbiter of his conduct, that he can conceive, either the triumph of self-applause, or the shame of self-condemnation. Part V.--Of the Influence of Custom and Fashion upon the Sentiments of Moral Approbation and Disapprobation.
注释摘要
斯密在这一段里做了一个思想实验，以此划清同情机制与效用美感之间的根本界限。他讨论的不是一个真实的历史阶段，而是一个逻辑上可能的状态：如果一个人从未进入社会，完全在孤立中长大成人，他对自己的行为会产生怎样的感受。他承认，这个人仍然可以凭借效用的眼光来看待自己的品格。审慎、节制、良好的行为会像一架设计精巧的机器那样让他觉得舒服，而相反的行为则像一件笨拙粗陋的装…