The Fable of the Bees

Aphysicianwithaparticularinterestinpsychologicaldisordersandsatirist,MandevillepublishedversionsofhisnotoriousFableoftheBeesfrom1714to1732.EachwasadefenceandelaborationofhisshortsatiricalpoemTheAngryHive,1705.TheversionoftheFableof1723and1732arethefullestdefencesofhisearlyparadoxthatsocialbenefitistheunintendedconsequenceofpersonalvice.ItisanargumentthatisgenerallyheldtoliebehindAdamSmith'sdoctrineofthe'hiddenhand'ofeconomicdevelopment.