Bernard de Mandeville

1870-1933

Bernard de Mandeville was born in Holland, Mandeville worked in London as a doctor. He is remembered for his satirical poem The Fable of the Bees: or Private Vices, Public Benefits originally published under a different title in 1705. Mandeville points out that private greed and the pursuit of luxury results in general good whereas virtue and a sober life has dreadful results. Adam Smith did not approve of the ‘Fable.