Bernard L. Mandeville

Bernard L. Mandeville was an 18th-century Dutch philosopher and economist best known for his work "The Fable of the Bees." He argued that many economic and social benefits arise from individual self-interest, even if such motives seem selfish. Mandeville believed that private vices, like greed or vanity, can lead to public improvements and economic growth when channeled through proper institutions. His ideas challenged traditional views by suggesting that vice and virtue are interconnected in shaping society. Overall, Mandeville emphasized the complex ways personal behaviors and societal progress influence each other in a functioning economy.