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Ethics Homepage > Textbook > Mandeville |
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Philosophy 302: Ethics Bernard Mandeville, "Human Beings Are Always Selfish" Abstract: Mandeville argues that the private vices of individuals being selfish and seeking self-interest pays off for social welfare and social progress. 1. Characterize Mandeville's description of human nature.
Mandeville holds the doctrines of psychological and ethical hedonism and psychological and ethical egoism.
Animals seek their own pleasure and do not think about the consequences to others. Those species who do live together have the fewest appetites to gratify. Man is extraordinarily selfish, cunning, and stubborn, but capable of being socialized if he believes he can profit by it.
With man, the "wise" men or politicians try to convince everyone that everyone is better off if he conquers his appetites and is unselfish. It is very difficult to get persons to conquer their natural inclinations. The politicians contrive an imaginary reward: they charm the savage with praise and flattery. They flatter by ...
Man, being prideful, falls for this. And so, the savage was broken.
These clever men, the skillful politicians, benefit from those who through pride deny their own pleasures. But the politicians were threatened by those who saw through the tricks and were like themselves. So the politicians set up an ethical system and defined "vice" as the gratification of appetites, and "virtue" as acting contrary to the impulses of nature. Deities were set up to enforce what the politicians could not enforce: the threats and rewards of hell and heaven. The moral virtues, then, are a political offspring.
Pity is just like any other emotion. We would save a baby falling into a fire solely to avoid our own pain. Whoever does good things without coveting thanks, according to Mandeville, is indulging in some secret passion or pleasure which is not immediately obvious—most notably pride. Hence, by not seeking our own advantage we help others and reap the rewards of honor and pride. It's in our own interest and in society's interest not to be overtly selfish. The "insatiable thirst after fame" results in public benefits. A person who does not love self is not so driven by flattery and praise. Recommended Sources Mandeville, Geoffrey de: The 1911 Encyclopedia. An excellent short presentation of Mandeville's thought |
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