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Mandeville And Rousseau

Bernard Mandeville (1670-1733) was a doctor and a philosopher, whose work had a large impact on the course of 18th century social and political philosophy. In 1705, he published a poem with the title The Grumbling Hive. The poem told of a wealthy and powerful beehive whose inhabitants acted only in pursuit of gain and esteem. This same poem reappeared nine years later as part of The Fable of the Bees. According to Mandeville in his writings, there are "most hateful qualities" in men that make them sociable beings. These qualities include pride, vanity, self-interest, lust, and greed. Mandeville explained that these qualities make us fit to live in a large and flourishing society. In a state of nature, people only pursue their own desires, without thinking of the consequences for others. As such, a human being is a dangerous "untaught animal," one that is too cunning and skillful to be subdued and brought to society by force. Happily, however, people have a characteristic that makes the...

Posted by: Jennifer Valles

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