Body, joy and sadness in the theory of knowledge of Sophie de Grouchy

Sophie de Grouchy (1764-1822) makes a knowledge theory based on empirism and on the importance of physical pain and physical pleasure. Having the influence of empiricist philosophers, such as Locke, Condillac and also who was her husband, Nicolas de Condorcet, de Grouchy's main book Letters on sympathy, explains her gnoseology. In that work, de Grouchy connects her knowledge theory with her ethical and political ideas from a social point of view really interested in weak people with needs. She also refuses Smith's ethical theory because it is so individualistic an selfish. De Grouchy argues that physical and moral pain create human links through "sympathy" and against Adam Smith philosophy, she thinks that sympathy is stronger with pain than pleasure. Furthermore, de Grouchy says that sympathy humanizes and reinforces human links.