Why Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Adam Smith were divided on the virtues of vanity | Aeon Videos
Briefly

Rousseau argued that vanity hinders genuine self-assessment, trapping individuals in a cycle of seeking approval and masking true identity, which undermines authentic human connection.
In contrast, Adam Smith posited that vanity plays a crucial role in social dynamics, suggesting that the desire for social approval fosters competition and drives societal progress.
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