Abstract
The objective of this study is to understand how the relationship between individual and social-historical context was present in the theories and philosophical speculations of Hume, Smith and Bentham - focusing on the role of the individual nature, and its supposed innate tendencies or predispositions, whether rational or passional. Hume and Smith, in particular, observe that the natural capacity to care for the other, sympathy, does not say much in itself, but becomes more concrete as the act becomes a habit. Although in Bentham, sympathy, which enables the individual to see himself in the other, will lead to the isolated individual, what makes it impossible to overcome a “natural nature” by the historical and social nature of man.
Keywords:
Human nature; Sympathy; Utilitarism; Hume; Smith