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Shaftesbury, Mandeville, and Smith on Liberty, Virtue, and Prosperity
This List Is By:
Liberty Fund Staff
Liberty Fund, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana
In this discussion we would like to compare Smith’s views on liberty, virtue, and prosperity with those of the Earl of Shaftesbury and Bernard Mandeville. All three thinkers appear to support the idea that the pursuit of private advantage does not contradict the public good, yet they do disagree about the question of virtue, the relation of wealth or prosperity to human well being, the place and effects of open markets in civil society, and the role of virtue in economics and politics. This discussion will explore the areas of agreement and disagreement in the thought of these important thinkers.
There is no reading set for the final 6th session.
See the online collection of the illustrations Shaftesbury did for his book.
For further reading see other sections of this website:
- Adam Smith (1723-1790)
- The Earl of Shaftesbury (1671-1713)
- Bernard Mandeville (1670-1733)
- Timeline of the Life and Work of Adam Smth
[The image of Smith comes from “The Warren J. Samuels Portrait Collection at Duke University.”]
Session I: The Earl of Shaftesbury on Virtue
The Inquiry Concerning Virtue is Shaftesbury’s most famous piece and in it he develops an optimistic account of how, if left to their own devices, people do seem to organize themselves in optimal ways, a sort of “spontaneous” moral order, if you will, does emerge under liberty. Read Book I, Parts 1 and 2; Book II, Part 1, Sections 1 and 2; and Book II, Part 2, Sections 2 and 3 and the Conclusion.
Anthony Ashley Cooper, Earl of Shaftesbury, Characteristicks of Men, Manners, Opinions, Times, ed. Douglas den Uyl (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 2001). 3 vols. Vol. 2. Chapter: AN INQUIRY CONCERNING VIRTURE AND MERIT
Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/812/194942 on 2008-11-14
The copyright to this edition, in both print and electronic forms, is held by Liberty Fund, Inc.
Session IIa: Bernard Mandeville’s Fable of the Bees
In The Fable of the Bees Mandeville seems to paint a darker picture of human society, one in which “vice” plays a prominent role in the seeking after fortune.
Bernard Mandeville, The Fable of the Bees or Private Vices, Publick Benefits, 2 vols. With a Commentary Critical, Historical, and Explanatory by F.B. Kaye (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 1988). Vol. 1. Chapter: [1]The Grumbling Hive: o r, Knaves turn’d Honest. a
Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/846/66863 on 2008-11-14
The copyright to this edition, in both print and electronic forms, is held by Liberty Fund, Inc.
Session IIb: Bernard Mandeville’s Fable of the Bees
Read Remark T: “To live great, had made her husband rob the State.”
Bernard Mandeville, The Fable of the Bees or Private Vices, Publick Benefits, 2 vols. With a Commentary Critical, Historical, and Explanatory by F.B. Kaye (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 1988). Vol. 1. Chapter: [45]REMARKS.
Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/846/66867 on 2008-11-14
The copyright to this edition, in both print and electronic forms, is held by Liberty Fund, Inc.
Session IIIa: Bernard Mandeville on the Origin of Moral Virtue
This selection from Mandeville will enable us to discuss his disagreements with Shaftesbury directly on the subject of virtue.
Bernard Mandeville, The Fable of the Bees or Private Vices, Publick Benefits, 2 vols. With a Commentary Critical, Historical, and Explanatory by F.B. Kaye (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 1988). Vol. 1. Chapter: [27]AN ENQUIRY Into the ORIGIN of MORAL VIRTUE.
Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/846/66866 on 2008-11-14
The copyright to this edition, in both print and electronic forms, is held by Liberty Fund, Inc.
Session IIIb: Bernard Mandeville on the Origin of Moral Virtue
Then read Mandeville’s “A Search into the Nature of Society.”
Bernard Mandeville, The Fable of the Bees or Private Vices, Publick Benefits, 2 vols. With a Commentary Critical, Historical, and Explanatory by F.B. Kaye (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 1988). Vol. 1. Chapter: [371] A SEARCH into the Nature of Society . a
Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/846/66893 on 2008-11-14
The copyright to this edition, in both print and electronic forms, is held by Liberty Fund, Inc.
Session IVa: Adam Smith’s Theory of Moral Sentiments
This session will enable us to explore Adam Smith’s notions of vice and virtue and to compare them with those of Mandeville and Shaftesbury.
Adam Smith, The Theory of Moral Sentiments, ed. D.D. Raphael and A.L. Macfie, vol. I of the Glasgow Edition of the Works and Correspondence of Adam Smith (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 1982). Chapter: SECTION III: Of the Effects of Prosperity and Adversity upon the Judgment of Mankind with regard to the Propriety of Action; and why it is more easy to obtain their Approbation in the one state than in the other
Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/192/200081 on 2008-11-14
The Glasgow Edition of the Works and Correspondence of Adam Smith and the associated volumes are published in hardcover by Oxford University Press. The six titles of the Glasgow Edition, but not the associated volumes, are being published in softcover by Liberty Fund. The online edition is published by Liberty Fund under license from Oxford University Press.
©Oxford University Press 1976. All rights reserved. No part of this material may be stored transmitted retransmitted lent or reproduced in any form or medium without the permission of Oxford University Press.
Session IVb: Adam Smith’s Theory of Moral Sentiments
Read Part IV, Chapter 1 on the invisible hand.
It is an interesting exercise to go to the table of contents page for the Glasgow Edition of the Works and Correspondence of Adam Smith and do a key word search for “invisible hand” across all seven volumes.
Adam Smith, The Theory of Moral Sentiments, ed. D.D. Raphael and A.L. Macfie, vol. I of the Glasgow Edition of the Works and Correspondence of Adam Smith (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 1982). Chapter: PART IV: Of the Effect of Utility upon the Sentiment of Approbation a Consisting of One Section a
Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/192/200135 on 2008-11-14
The Glasgow Edition of the Works and Correspondence of Adam Smith and the associated volumes are published in hardcover by Oxford University Press. The six titles of the Glasgow Edition, but not the associated volumes, are being published in softcover by Liberty Fund. The online edition is published by Liberty Fund under license from Oxford University Press.
©Oxford University Press 1976. All rights reserved. No part of this material may be stored transmitted retransmitted lent or reproduced in any form or medium without the permission of Oxford University Press.
Session IVc: Adam Smith’s Theory of Moral Sentiments
Read Part VIII, section II, chapter IV and from Part III, the Introduction and Chapter I on Smith’s discussion of Mandeville.
Adam Smith, The Theory of Moral Sentiments, ed. D.D. Raphael and A.L. Macfie, vol. I of the Glasgow Edition of the Works and Correspondence of Adam Smith (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 1982). Chapter: PART VII: Of Systems of Moral Philosophy Consisting of Four Sections
Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/192/200164 on 2008-11-14
The Glasgow Edition of the Works and Correspondence of Adam Smith and the associated volumes are published in hardcover by Oxford University Press. The six titles of the Glasgow Edition, but not the associated volumes, are being published in softcover by Liberty Fund. The online edition is published by Liberty Fund under license from Oxford University Press.
©Oxford University Press 1976. All rights reserved. No part of this material may be stored transmitted retransmitted lent or reproduced in any form or medium without the permission of Oxford University Press.
Session IVd: Adam Smith’s Theory of Moral Sentiments
Read from Smith’s Wealth of Nations, Book I, chapters I and II.
Adam Smith, An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, Vol. I ed. R. H. Campbell and A. S. Skinner, vol. II of the Glasgow Edition of the Works and Correspondence of Adam Smith (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 1981). Chapter: BOOK I: Of the Causes of Improvement in the productive Powers of Labour, and of the Order according to which its Produce is naturally distributed among the different Ranks of the People
Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/220/111835 on 2008-11-14
The Glasgow Edition of the Works and Correspondence of Adam Smith and the associated volumes are published in hardcover by Oxford University Press. The six titles of the Glasgow Edition, but not the associated volumes, are being published in softcover by Liberty Fund. The online edition is published by Liberty Fund under license from Oxford University Press.
©Oxford University Press 1976. All rights reserved. No part of this material may be stored transmitted retransmitted lent or reproduced in any form or medium without the permission of Oxford University Press.
Session Va: Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations
Here we will explore Smith’s understanding of how wealth is created, the role of the “invisible hand”, and to compare his theories with those of Mandeville and Shaftesbury.
Adam Smith, An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, Vol. I ed. R. H. Campbell and A. S. Skinner, vol. II of the Glasgow Edition of the Works and Correspondence of Adam Smith (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 1981). Chapter: BOOK III: Of the different Progress of Opulence in different Nations
Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/220/111895 on 2008-11-14
The Glasgow Edition of the Works and Correspondence of Adam Smith and the associated volumes are published in hardcover by Oxford University Press. The six titles of the Glasgow Edition, but not the associated volumes, are being published in softcover by Liberty Fund. The online edition is published by Liberty Fund under license from Oxford University Press.
©Oxford University Press 1976. All rights reserved. No part of this material may be stored transmitted retransmitted lent or reproduced in any form or medium without the permission of Oxford University Press.
Session Vb: Adam Smith’s The Wealth of Nations
Then read from Book IV, chapters II and III on the invisible hand; and Book IV chapter III.
Adam Smith, An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, Vol. I ed. R. H. Campbell and A. S. Skinner, vol. II of the Glasgow Edition of the Works and Correspondence of Adam Smith (Indianapolis: Liberty Fund, 1981). Chapter: BOOK IV: Of Systems of political Oeconomy
Accessed from oll.libertyfund.org/title/220/111905 on 2008-11-14
The Glasgow Edition of the Works and Correspondence of Adam Smith and the associated volumes are published in hardcover by Oxford University Press. The six titles of the Glasgow Edition, but not the associated volumes, are being published in softcover by Liberty Fund. The online edition is published by Liberty Fund under license from Oxford University Press.
©Oxford University Press 1976. All rights reserved. No part of this material may be stored transmitted retransmitted lent or reproduced in any form or medium without the permission of Oxford University Press.