The Fable of the Bees: Or Private Vices, Public Benefits is a book written by Bernard Mandeville in 1728. The book is a satirical work that uses the metaphor of a beehive to explore the relationship between private vices and public benefits. Mandeville argues that the pursuit of self-interest and the satisfaction of personal desires are the driving forces behind economic growth and social progress. He suggests that the pursuit of individual pleasure and the accumulation of wealth benefit society as a whole, even though they may be seen as morally questionable. Mandeville's ideas were controversial at the time and continue to be debated today. The Fable of the Bees is considered to be one of the most influential works of economic thought in the 18th century and a precursor to modern economic theory.With An Essay On Charity And Charity Schools, And A Search Into The Nature Of Society.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.