The Fable of the Bees
Quick Summary
Bernard de Mandeville's The Fable of the Bees (first published in 1705 as The Grumbling Hive; or, Knaves Turn'd Honest) is a significant work in Western literature and philosophy. The 1714 edition, subtitled Private Vices, Publick Benefits, argues paradoxically that societal benefits, wealth, and civilization arise from the self-interested actions, or "vices," of individuals.12
Mandeville, a Dutch-born writer and philosopher who settled in England, graduated in medicine and gained fame for this work. The fable uses the metaphor of a kingdom of bees to illustrate the rapacious nature of humans in society. Mandeville's argument suggests that while individual motives may be selfish, the collective results of these actions can be socially beneficial. This provocative idea sparked considerable controversy.12
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
English literatureShaftesbury and othersby Bernard de Mandeville, whose Fable of the Bees (1714ā29), which includes āThe Grumbling Hive; or, Knaves Turnād Honestā (1705), takes a closer look at early capitalist society than Shaftesbury was prepared to do. Mandeville stressed the indispensable role played by the ruthless pursuit of self-interest in securing societyās prosperousā¦
Read Moreby Bernard de Mandeville, whose Fable of the Bees (1714ā29), which includes āThe Grumbling Hive; or, Knaves Turnād Honestā (1705), takes a closer look at early capitalist society than Shaftesbury was prepared to do. Mandeville stressed the indispensable role played by the ruthless pursuit of self-interest in securing societyās prosperousā¦
Read More
fable, parable, and allegoryBeast epicBernard de Mandevilleās Fable of the Bees (first published 1705 as The Grumbling Hive; or, Knaves Turnād Honest) illustrated the rapacious nature of humans in society through the age-old metaphor of the kingdom of the bees. In modern times, childrenās literature has made use of animal fable butā¦
Read MoreBernard de Mandevilleās Fable of the Bees (first published 1705 as The Grumbling Hive; or, Knaves Turnād Honest) illustrated the rapacious nature of humans in society through the age-old metaphor of the kingdom of the bees. In modern times, childrenās literature has made use of animal fable butā¦
Read More