2.1 The Fable of the Bees

About this Video

• Video Title: 2.1 The Fable of the Bees
• Channel: Social Sciences - UvA
• Speakers: (Speaker name not explicitly mentioned in transcript)
• Duration: 00:07:27

Introduction

This video discusses Bernard de Mandeville's The Fable of the Bees, a 1714 book that uses a fable about bees to satirize 18th-century English society. The video explores the book's central argument: that a degree of vice and crime is necessary for societal prosperity. It highlights the book's influence on later thinkers, including Adam Smith.

Key Takeaways

• Mandeville's The Fable of the Bees (1714): A satirical work using a fable to critique English society. The fable shows a prosperous beehive that collapses when its inhabitants become entirely virtuous.
• "Private vices, public benefits": The book's central thesis, suggesting that individual flaws can contribute to overall societal prosperity.
• Misinterpretation of the Fable: Mandeville's work was initially misinterpreted as an apology for crime, prompting him to write a lengthy explanation.
• Necessity of Deviance: The video argues that Mandeville's work suggests that some level of deviance and crime is inherent to and necessary for a smoothly functioning society.
• Influence on Later Thinkers: The concepts explored in The Fable of the Bees influenced later thinkers like Adam Smith.