E70 -

Mandeville laid the groundwork for understanding society as an evolving system shaped by passions, not perfection.

Hosts
Paul Meany
Editor for Intellectual History, Lib​er​tar​i​an​ism​.org

This episode explores the provocative work of Bernard Mandeville, who argued that everything from commerce to civilization itself emerged not from altruism, but from self-​interest, vanity, and competition.