《道德情操论·卷六·论德性的品质·二之一·论天性推荐给我们照顾的个人次序》第6节
I consider what is called natural affection as more the effect of the moral than of the supposed physical connection between the parent and the child. A jealous husband, indeed, notwithstanding the moral connection, notwithstanding the child's having been educated in his own house, often regards, with hatred and aversion, that unhappy child which he supposes to be the offspring of his wife's infidelity. It is the lasting monument of a most disagreeable adventure; of his own dishonour, and of the disgrace of his family. Among well-disposed people, the necessity or conveniency of mutual accommodation, very frequently produces a friendship not unlike that which takes place among those who are born to live in the same family. Colleagues in office, partners in trade, call one another brothers; and frequently feel towards one another as if they really were so. Their good agreement is an advantage to all; and, if they are tolerably reasonable people, they are naturally disposed to agree. We expect that they should do so; and their disagreement is a sort of a small scandal. The Romans expressed this sort of attachment by the word necessitudo, which, from the etymology, seems to denote that it was imposed by the necessity of the situation. Even the trifling circumstance of living in the same neighbourhood, has some effect of the same kind. We respect the face of a man whom we see every day, provided he has never offended us. Neighbours can be very convenient, and they can be very troublesome, to one another. If they are good sort of people, they are naturally disposed to agree. We expect their good agreement; and to be a bad neighbour is a very bad character. There are certain small good offices, accordingly, which are universally allowed to be due to a neighbour in preference to any other person who has no such connection.
注释摘要
在这一段里，斯密要正面处理一个他此前一直在暗示的命题：所谓“自然的亲情”，与其说是源于血缘这种物理联系，不如说是在共同生活、彼此需要的情境中逐渐养成的那种习惯性同情。这个判断把他一贯的同情论彻底推到了前台，也修正了常人对于家庭纽带的直觉理解。 他先用一个反例来制造张力。嫉妒的丈夫明明与孩子同住一个屋檐下，也具备他所说的“道德联系”——也就是共同生活中本应产…