(P/B) THE FABLE OF THE BEES (TWO VOLUME SET)

Παρουσίαση

It used to be that everyone read the "notorious" Bernard Mandeville (1670-1733). He was a great satirist and came to have a profound impact on economics, ethics, and social philosophy.
The Fable begins with a poem and continues with a number of essays and dialogues. It is all tied together by the startling and original idea that "private vices" (self-interest) lead to "publick benefits" (the development and operation of society). From that simple beginning, Mandeville saw that orderly social structures (such as law, language, the market, and even the growth of knowledge) were a spontaneous growth developing out of individual human actions. (From the publisher)

Περιεχόμενα

VOLUME ONE
PREFATORY NOTE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
I. Life of Mandeville
Early life in Holland, Career in England, Writings,
II. History of the Text
III. Mandeville's Thought
1. The literary aspect, Background for the mingling of criteria which produced the paradox of 'Private Vices, Publick Benefits': the Deists, Renaissance scepticism, Pierre Bayle
2. Analysis of the paradox as embodied in the Fable
3. Of the two contrary standards simultaneously adopted by Mandeville, which was his genuine attitude?
4. Mandeville's ethics: his apparent pyrrhonism, his basal utilitarianism
5. Mandeville's psychology: man completely egoistic; the function of pride; human irrationality; the 'invention' of virtue
6. Certain misunderstood economic doctrines: the benefits of waste, his attitude towards charity-schools
7. Mandeville and Shaftesbury, Summary
IV. The Background
1. International character of the background, Background for Mandeville's psychology (French): anti-rationalism, anticipations of anti-rationalism, the basal egoism of man, the function of pride in moral action. Background for Mandeville's economics (English, French, and Dutch): defence of luxury, the economic phase of Mandeville's paradox, defence of laissez-faire: general historical factors, literature, Mandeville's special contribution.
2. Influence of individual predecessors: Bayle, La Rochefoucauld, Gassendi, Erasmus, Hobbes, Locke, Spinoza, &c. Mandeville's originality
V. Mandeville's Influence
1. Vogue of the Fable
2. Literary influence
3. Influence on ethical thought: effect of Mandeville's paradox as a stimulus towards utilitarianism-the two groups influenced: the 'rigoristic'-Law, Dennis, et al.-and the non-rigoristic-Adam Smith, John Brown, &c.; effect of Mandeville's pyrrhonism on utilitarian theory; effect of his individualism
4. Influence on economic theory: Adam Smith and the doctrine of 'the division of labour'; the defence of luxury; laissez-faire and Mandeville's philosophy of individualism. Other influence by Mandeville
THE FABLE OF THE BEES. Part I
The Preface 3
The Grumbling Hive
The Introduction
An Enquiry into the Origin of Moral Virtue
Remarks
An Essay on Charity, and Charity-schools
A Search into the Nature of Society
The Index [Mandeville's]
A Vindication of the Book
VOLUME TWO
THE FABLE OF THE BEES. Part II
The Preface
The First Dialogue
The Second Dialogue
The Third Dialogue
The Fourth Dialogue
The Fifth Dialogue
The Sixth Dialogue
The Index [Mandeville's]
APPENDIXES
MANDEVILLE'S FAMILY (with Genealogical Table)
DESCRIPTION Of THE EDITIONS
CRITICISMS OF THE FABLE
William Law, Richard Fiddes, John Dennis, George Bluet, Bishop Berkeley, Lord Hervey, Adam Smith, John Brown. Summary.
A LIST, CHRONOLOGICALLY ARRANGED, Of REFERENCES TO MANDEVILLE'S WORK
INDEX TO COMMENTARY
LIST OF FACSIMILES IN VOL. I
Letter addressed to Sir Hans Sloane frontispiece
Mandeville's Will facing
Letter addressed to Lord Macclesfield facing