Mandeville and Hume
Subtitle: anatomists of civil society
By: Mikko Tolonen
Series: SVEC
Publisher: Voltaire Foundation
Published: 2013
Place of publication: Oxford
Language: eng
Number of pages: 292
ISBN-13: 9780729410687
Subjects: Human behavior; Philosophy; British Philosophy
Description: The Fable of the bees and the Treatise of human nature were written to define and dissect the essential components of a 'civil society.' How have early readings of the Fable skewed our understanding of the work and its author? To what extent did Mandeville's celebrated work influence that of Hume? In this pioneering book, Mikko Tolonen extends current research at the intersection of philosophy and book history by analysing the two parts of the Fable in relation to the development of the Treatise. Focusing on the key themes of selfishness, pride, justice and politeness, Tolonen traces the evolution of Mandeville's thinking on human nature and the origins of political society to explore the relationship between his Fable and Hume's Treatise. Through a close examination of the publishing history of the Fable and F. B. Kaye's seminal edition, Tolonen uncovers hitherto overlooked differences between Parts I and II to open up new approaches in Mandeville scholarship. As the question of social responsibility dominates the political agenda, the legacy of these key Enlightenment philosophers is as pertinent today as it was to our predecessors.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (pages 249-274) and index.