LineBalancing Notes

LineBalancing Notes

Mandeville takes a realistic but ironic view of human self-interest. He believed that self-interest can be channelled into the common good. Man is extraordinarily selfish, cunning, and stubborn, but capable of being socialized if he believes he can profit by it.


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.
2. According to Mandeville, why do some persons practice self-denial? How have politicians convinced persons to overcome their self-interest?
3.  How, according to Mandeville, were the brutes, or the lower-class, made civilized by the politicians?  What are the origins of "virtue" and "vice"?  Do you agree that virtuous actions are only fictions contrary to human nature invented by politicians?
4. In what ways do "private vices" become "public benefits" according to Mandeville?  Does the absence of "self-love" destroy progress? 
1.  Characterize Mandeville's description of human nature.
Mandeville holds the doctrines of psychological and ethical hedonism and psychological and ethical egoism.
a. Psychological Hedonism: the doctrine that each individual seeks his own pleasure.
b. Ethical Hedonism: the belief that each individual ought to seek his own pleasure.
c. Psychological Egoism: the doctrine that each individual seeks his own interest—for Mandeville, each person is selfish.
d. Ethics Egoism: the doctrine that each individual ought to seek his own interest—for Mandeville, each person ought to be selfish.
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.

2.  According...

Similar Essays