The Fable Of The Bees

The Fable of the Bees: Or Private Vices, Public Benefits is a philosophical work by Bernard Mandeville, first published in 1728. The book is written in the form of a fable, and it argues that the pursuit of individual self-interest is the driving force behind economic prosperity and social progress.In the fable, Mandeville describes a hive of bees that initially thrives on the virtues of honesty, industry, and selflessness. However, as the hive grows and becomes more complex, the bees begin to indulge in vices such as greed, luxury, and vanity. Despite these negative behaviors, the hive continues to prosper, and Mandeville argues that this is because the pursuit of individual self-interest leads to increased productivity and innovation.Mandeville's ideas were controversial at the time, as they challenged traditional notions of morality and virtue. However, his work has since been recognized as a significant contribution to the development of modern economic theory and the understanding of the relationship between individual behavior and social outcomes. The Fable of the Bees remains a thought-provoking and influential work in the fields of economics, philosophy, and sociology.With An Essay On Charity And Charity Schools, And A Search Into The Nature Of Society.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.