From: sannuti@math.washington.edu (Arun Meda Sannuti)
Subject: The Tale of the Bees
Originator: sannuti@zeno.math.washington.edu
Organization: University of Washington, Mathematics, Seattle
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 18:45:09 GMT

I just received this from a friend who studies early modern English
literature.  I thought that some people here would be interested.
Arun
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From "The Fable of the Bees," by Bernard Mandeville, 1723:
 
      Another piece of Luxury the Poor enjoy, that is not look'd upon
as such, and which there is no doubt but the Wealthiest in a Golden
Age would abstain from, is their making use of the Flesh of Animals to
eat.  In what concerns the Fashions and Manner of the Ages Men live in
they never examine into the real Worth or Merit of the Cause, and
generally judge of Things not at their Reason, but Custom directs
them.  ...
      I have often thought, if it was not for this Tyranny which
Custom usurps over us, that Men of any tollerable good Nature could
never be reconcil'd to the killing of so many Animals for their daily
Food, as long as the bountiful Earth so plentifully provides them with
varieties of vegetable Dainties.  I know that Reason excites our
Compassion but faintly, and therefore I would not wonder how Men
should so little commiserate such imperfect Creatures as Cray fish,
Oysters, Cockles, and indeed all Fish in general: As they are mute,
and their inward Formation, as well as outward Figure, vastly
different from ours, they express themselves unintelligibly to us, and
therefore 'tis not strange that their Grief should not affect our
Understanding, which it cannot reach; for nothing stirs us to Pity so
effectually, as when the Symptome of Misery strike immediately upon
our Senses, and I have seen People mov'd at the Noise a live Lobster
makes upon the Spit, that could have kill'd half a dozen Fowls with
Pleasure.  But in such perfect Animals as Sheep and Oxen, in whom the
Heart, the Brain and Nerves differ so little from ours, and in whom
the Separation of the Spirits from the Blood, the Organs of Sense, and
consequently Feeling itself, are the same as they are in Human
Creatures, I can't imagine how a Man not hardened in Blood and
Massacre, is able to see a violent Death, and the Pangs of it, without
Concern.
      In answer to this, most People will think it sufficient to say,
that all Things being allow'd to be made for the Service of Man, there
can be no Cruelty in putting Creatures to the use they were design'd
for; but I have heard Menn make this Reply, whilst their Nature within
them has reproach'd them with the Falshood of the Assertion.  There is
of all the Multitude not one Man in ten but what will own, (if he was
not brought up in a Slaughter-house) that of all Trades he could never
have been a *Butcher*; and I question whether ever any body so much as
kill'd a Chicken without Reluctancy the first time.  Some People are
not to be perswaded to taste of any Creatures they have daily seen and
been acquainted with, whilst they were alive; others extend their
scruple no further than to their own Poultry, and refuse to eat what
they fed and took care of themselves, yet all of them will feed
heartily and without Remorse on Beef, Mutton and Fowls, when they are
bought in the Market.  In this behaviour, methinks, there appears
something like a consciousness of Guilt, it looks as if they
endeavor'd to save themselves from the Imputation of a Crime (which
rthey know sticks somewhere) by removing the cause of it as far as
they can from themselves; and I can discover in it some strong remains
of Primitive Pity and Innocence, which all the arbitrary Power of
Custom, and the violence of Luxury, have not yet been able to conquer.
      What I build upon I shall be told is a folly that Wise Men are
not guilty of: I own it; but whilst it proceeds from a real Passion
inherent in our Nature, it is sufficient to demonstrate that we are
born with a Repugnancy to the killing, and consequently teh eating of
Animals; for it is impossible that a natural Appetite should ever
prompt us to act, or desire others to do, what we have an aversion to,
be it as foolish as it will.