Bernard Mandeville
Anglo-Dutch philosopher, satirist and physician (1670–1733); wrote The Fable of the Bees.
At a glance
Main ideas
Private vices, public benefits, Virtue as hypocrisy, The skilful politician …
See all 5Books to start with
The Grumbling Hive, The Fable of the Bees, Free Thoughts on Religion, the Church, and National Happiness …
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Adam Smith, Friedrich Hayek and 2 others
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Also on this page: Key facts · Links · Sources · Related pages
- Mandeville was an Anglo-Dutch philosopher, political economist, satirist, writer and physician.
- Born in Rotterdam, he trained in medicine at Leiden and lived most of his life in England, writing mostly in English.
- He became famous for The Fable of the Bees, which argues that private vices produce public benefits.
- Critics saw his view of human nature as cynical and degraded, and the book caused a scandal.
Why it matters
- His claim that self-interest, not virtue, drives prosperity fed later debates on the division of labour and free markets, and Adam Smith used some of his examples.
Key facts
- Born
- 15 Nov 1670, Rotterdam1
- Died
- 21 Jan 1733, Hackney, of influenza1
- Education
- Erasmus school, Rotterdam; Leiden University, medical degree in 16911
- Profession
- Physician, well respected in England1
Main ideas
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Private vices, public benefits1
Self-regarding actions, through invention and the spending of luxury, are what drive a society's progress.
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Virtue as hypocrisy1
"The moral virtues are the political offspring which flattery begot upon pride."
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The skilful politician1
Vices become public benefits only "by the dextrous Management of a skilful Politician".
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The division of labour1
He was an early describer of it, with examples such as bow-making and watch-making.
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Against charity schools1
Educating the poor raises their wants without making them more virtuous.
Books to start with
The line under a date fills as it gets older: empty when new, full at 2 years.
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The Grumbling Hive2
The satirical poem behind the Fable, published anonymously.
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Private vices, public benefits.
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Free Thoughts on Religion, the Church, and National Happiness1
On religion and the state.
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A Modest Defence of Publick Stews1
A satirical case for state-run brothels.
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An Enquiry into the Origin of Honour, and the Usefulness of Christianity in War1
One of his last works.
Connections
Links
Sources
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