Publisher's Synopsis
In this scathing 1714 political pamphlet, Mandeville critiques the emerging Whig ascendancy in Britain, warning of the ideological and moral hazards he associates with their influence. Drawing sharp distinctions between Whig and Tory principles, he challenges prevailing assumptions about liberty, governance, and virtue. A pointed contribution to early modern political theory, the work reflects tensions in the post-Glorious Revolution period and offers insight into partisan dynamics still echoed today.
Bernard Mandeville (1670-1733) was a philosopher, political economist, and satirist, best known for The Fable of the Bees, or Private Vices, Public Benefits. Mandeville's views of human nature were seen by his critics as cynical and degrading, but he endeavored to show that all social laws are the crystallized results of selfish aggrandizement and protective alliances among the weak.
