# Self-Interest and Social Order in Classical Liberalism: Joseph Butler

**URL:** <https://www.libertarianism.org/podcasts/excursions/self-interest-and-social-order-in-classical-liberalism-joseph-butler>

**By** George H. Smith

**Published:** June 21, 2017

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George H. Smith discusses Joseph Butler’s influential theory of psychology and his ideas about self-interest and benevolence.

[Originally published in essay form on December 12, 2014.](https://www.libertarianism.org/columns/self-interest-social-order-classical-liberalism-joseph-butler)

_Narrated by Daniel Hyland._