Why Mandeville Matters free essay sample

It is a mark of great philosophers that they cannot be rebutted simply by the discovery of errors, however egregious, in the theories they espouse (Helmsman, 57). A figure from the past, no matter how major was, if it is recalled, only in footnotes, should have been at the center of discussion, or rebutted by different opponents at his time. This was also the story of Bernard Mandible. He was the author who became more famous from the critics about his book The fable of the Bees, than from his overall achievement as a writer.His book went through a process of various editions ND was published under different names, until it was finally titled The fable of the Bees. The introduction of the book consists of an allegory that describes a hive, similar to a real state which is shaped by the existence of different attitudes such as ambition, dishonesty, selfishness and pride which Mandible calls vices. According to Laurence Dickey in the essay Pride, hypocrisy and civility in Mandibles social and historical theory, the purpose of The fable of the Bees was to bring back the idea of the moralists and French Jansenism about self-love.By doing this Mandible would be able to explain the theory that development comes as a result of the impact that selfish actions (without any constrain from moral forces) have on the whole society and economy. His idea caused an immediate and strong reaction among the contemporary moralists of the time. Moreover, the Grand Jury accused Mandible for public nuisance since the book he wrote emphasized the useful and positive effect of vice in the society. All his enemies and other people who felt threatened by Mandibles ideas accused him of writing against the institutions and morality of the society.As Philip Hart put it: If hey recognized any personal reflections in his satire touching their own lives, they managed to disguise their resentment in the mann er in which Mandible complained. In fact, there were two major reasons why The Fable of the Bees was so criticized and considered as paradoxical in the development of ideas. First of all, the atmosphere of the eighteen century and especially in 1714 had much of impact in the acceptance of ideas embedded in The Fable.By the time the final edition of the book was published, it was a period of agitation between the prophecies of Marooned represented by elisions groups and the Deist rationalism. Eventually, the publication of The Fable of the Bees made their juxtaposing more complex as Mandible presented his almost unacceptable ideas to the society of that time. Furthermore, Mandibles literary style made it complicated for most of the people to understand his point of view.It was not a result of a lack of clarity in writing, as it was especially due to the use of such a paradox private vices, public benefit that classified the book as controversial. Moreover, the interconnection between social, ethical, political and economic issues in the kook made it more complicated, so there was a need for educated readers that had enough background to understand the text. However, those who had the background to understand it were completely against the ideology of the Mandible as their own interests were attacked. For people like priests, doctors or layers it was impossible to accept that vices were a useful element in the society, while they all in their manners preached for a clean and moral society. Although Mandible texts and his ideas were rejected by the contemporary moralists of that time, he takes credit for the contribution dad mainly in ethics and economics. Actually, the ethical dimension unfolded in The Fable of the Bees is narrowly focused on individual morality and its impact on the general society. The thesis of the entire book private vices, public benefits reflects the main paradox about The Fable.F. B. Kay in his book Bernard Mandible, The Fable of the Bees or Private Vices, Public Benefits suggests that these two elements should be considered separately first. Mandible did not suggest the encouragement of vices; he was in favor of transforming some vices into public benefits. Secondly, not all vices undistributed to the public benefit, but actually was the inverse: public benefit was based on vicious actions. As Mandible himself described it: Millions endeavoring to supply Each others Lust and Vanity .THUS every Part was full of Vice, Yet the whole Mass a Paradise; (Mandible) However, Mandibles paradox contributed to the significant change in ethical and social approach. Since he believed that right was independent of its consequences, he must have believed that the lie would remain vicious in spite of all the good it would do the State. Eventually, in this case, he must believe that private vice serves the public benefit. Actually, experience has shown that circumstances might change the situation and people fall In Mandibles paradox.The economic science studies the choices made by individuals on how to allocate resources so that a larger, quantitatively and qualitatively, amount of satisfaction comes back in return. Economics does also study the choices made by firms, institutions, governments, etc. But since these choices are also made by other people and most importantly based on the individualistic choices mentioned above then it can be said that economics studies the human behavior. It studies that part of human behavior which deals with the well-being of an individual or a group of individuals.Even literally economics, which comes from the Greek word kimono, means the administration of the household. According to all the modern economist economics is built upon two axioms/observations which are: 1) The minimization of profit. Individuals and any organism made from or made for serving the individuals wants to maximize the profits coming out of the use of their resources. 2) The primary and the only concern of the individual is to promote his self-interest. An important issue Of economics is the role of the government.These two seminal points in the modern economic literature were mainly credited to Adam Smith who wrote in his book An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, in 1776: Every individual necessarily labors to render the annual revenue of the society as great as he can. He generally neither intends to promote the public interest, nor knows how much he is promoting it He intends only his own gain (Adam Smith, 264) Generally because of the ideas expressed in these lines Smith, among economists is now known as the father of economics.But he was not the first to talk about the above mentioned points. More than half a century earlier Bernard Mandible presented us with these important ideas in his book The Fable of the Bees or Private Vices Public Benefits. In the Fable Mandible maintains, and maintains explicitly, the theory at present known as the laissez-fairer theory. The Fable of the Bees, I believe, was one of the chief literary sources of the doctrine of laissez-fairer. The greatest impact of Mandibles work was most probably on the field of economics.One of his contributions into this field was for instance the concept of the division of labor about which Mandible talked in The Fable f the BeesBut if one will wholly apply himself to the making of bows and arrows, whilst another provides food, a third builds huts, a fourth makes garments, and a fifth utensils, they not onl y become useful to one another, but the callings and employments themselves will in the same number of years receive much greater improvements, than if all had been promiscuously followed by every one of the five. Adam Smith, known as the father of economics, himself gave credit to Mandible by making use of this point at the Wealth of Nations and making it one of the underpinning principles of odder economics. This of course is little compared to the contributions of Mandible to the economic science. Mandible was the first to really argue about two important principles of modern economics which are minimization of profit and self-interest.The minimization of profit exactly means that individuals and any organism made from or made for serving the individuals wants to maximize the profits coming out of the use of their resources. Smith also used this concept in his book of 1 776 An inquiry into the nature and causes of the wealth of nations where he writes Every individual necessarily aborts to render the annual revenue of the society as great as he can (Adam Smith, 264). Smith also used the self-interest principle.Combining them together he gave us the formalized concept of laissez fairer. Laissez fairer is the theory which promotes the minimum possible intervention of government in commerce and the economic activity. Here Smith introduced the concept of invisible hand. Kay also thought that Mandibles work was essential for the development of laissez fairer doctrine. He argues that without Mandrill?s work Smith probably wouldnt have written about laissez fairer at all.