Bernard Mandeville's Human NatureThis is a featured page


Bernard MandevilleMandeville (1670-1733) was a Dutch born philosopher and political economist who lived most of his life in England. His most noted work, “The Grumbling Hive” or “The Fable of the Bees” or “Knaves Turned Honest” provides an interesting view on human nature, self interest and the good of society. All of these issues, which we have seen, play into views of ‘good’ and ‘evil’.

Mandeville’s controversial work basically tells us that in order for society to thrive, men must be self-interested, and pursue the ‘vices’ of life. Mandeville describes these vices as things such as selfishness, dishonesty and indulgence on luxury goods (greed). Mandeville writes:

Thus Vice nursed Ingenuity,
Which join'd with Time; and Industry
Had carry'd Life's Conveniencies,
It's real Pleasures, Comforts, Ease, [200]
To such a Height, the very Poor
Lived better than the Rich before;
And nothing could be added more:

Through self-interest and disregard for other’s well-being, ingenuity and technology develop which full the economy. With this robust economy everyone, even the poorest are better off than they were before, even if this economy was based off 'vice'.

Eventually, however, the citizen’s of Mandeville’s society tire of living in greed and injustice, so they call on the gods to bring virtue to their society. But, when virtue enters into society, society begins to self-destruct. With the drive for self-interest gone, economic development dies in the society and the members of the society become lazy and unmotivated:"Grumbling Hive"

As Pride and Luxury decrease,
So by degrees they leave the Seas,
Not Merchants now; but Companies [385]
Remove whole Manufacturies.
All Arts and Crafts neglected lie;
Content the Bane of Industry,
Makes 'em admire their homely Store,
And neither seek, nor covet more. [390]

By seeking honestly and virtue, the society eventually destroys itself.

Mandeville offers this final Moral warning against the dangers of seeking a virtuous society:

THEN leave Complaints: Fools only strive
To make a Great an honest Hive. [410]
T'enjoy the World's Conveniencies,
Be famed in War, yet live in Ease
Without great Vices, is a vain
Eutopia seated in the Brain.
Fraud, Luxury, and Pride must live; [415]
We [illeg.] we the Benefits receive.

A Mandevillian view of human nature would argue that humans are self-interested, and that we should remain self-interested for the good of the self and society. The popular view that ‘good’ means looking out for others is actually an evil in Mandeville’s eyes, because it will ultimately lead to a lazy, unproductive, life-less society. On the other hand, what many view as ‘evil’ – dishonestly, greed, lust – Mandeville views as ‘good’ because it produces a strong and vibrant society in which everyone is better off, even the poorest people. So are the individuals in Mandeville’s society ‘good’ or are they ‘evil’? Was it actually 'evil' for them to seek justice and virtue? Whether one agrees with Mandeville’s argument, or not, “The Grumbling Hive” teaches us that the study of ‘good’ and ‘evil’ requires a much closer examination than many people tend to give it.

Grumbling Hive, The. Mandeville, Bernard. http://andromeda.rutgers.edu/~jlynch/Texts/hive.html


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