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Anatomizing the invisible: moral philosophy and economics in Mandeville’s thought

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  • Thiago Vargas

    (PHARE - Philosophie, Histoire et Analyse des Représentations Économiques - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne)

Abstract

Taking as its starting point the reception of the Fable of the Bees by the philosophers of the second half of the eighteenth century, this article seeks to examine which parts of Mandeville's system "bordered upon the truth" (Smith) and were therefore useful in contributing to the formation of the political economy of commercial societies. To this end, the article is divided into three parts that address crucial aspects of the Fable's moral philosophy: the quarrel over the refinement of the arts and its link with labour, trade, and inequality; the passions and the political foundation of society; and the manner in which interests are organised.

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  • Thiago Vargas, 2021. "Anatomizing the invisible: moral philosophy and economics in Mandeville’s thought," Post-Print hal-03968670, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-03968670
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.science/hal-03968670
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    1. repec:ucp:bkecon:9780226320670 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Hayek, F. A., 2012. "The Trend of Economic Thinking," University of Chicago Press Economics Books, University of Chicago Press, edition 1, number 9780226321363 edited by Bartley, III, W. W. & Kresge, Stephen, September.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Mandeville; Adam Smith; Political economy; Moral philosophy; Commercial society; Political philosophy;
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