Smith, Hume and the Moral Imagination: Sympathy and Social Justice

In this article, the author argues that there is still much to learn from the moral theories developed by two eminent philosophers, John Smith and David Hume, that can contribute to enhancing the sensibilities of students in classroom discussions about a range of moral and social justice issues. He argues that when school students are afforded the opportunity to imagine the circumstances of those persons suffering various forms of social marginalization, they can gain a heightened awareness on the affective and practical implications of social injustice, and feel more compelled to transform the unacceptable inequities they encounter. He suggests that encouraging students to use their moral imaginations and sensibilities will invoke a sympathetic response that raises their collective consciousness on the moral importance of attempting to create a more compassionate, benevolent and equitable society.