Abbé De Mably on Commerce, Luxury, and “Classical Republicanism”

Ferrand, Julie; Orain, Arnaud

doi:10.1017/s105383721600047x

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…On Mably's republicanism, seeWright (1997),Baker (2001),Hammersley (2010),Ferrand and Orain (2017).13 On Malebranche's concept of order of nature, seeRiley (2003).14 'Quand le père Mallebranche m'aura bien mis dans la tête qu'il y a entre les hommes deux sortes de sociétés; une société de quelques années et une société éternelle, une société de commerce et une société de religion, je crois que l'une me paroîtra vile en comparaison de l'autre.' 15 'Mon imagination s'échauffera, et ma raison, pleine de mépris pour moi et pour tout ce qui m'environne, ne sera guère disposé à chérir mon prochain.…”

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Mably on Esteem, Republicanism, and the Question of Human Corruption

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2021

Journal of Modern Philosophy

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Gabriel Bonnot de Mably (1709-1785) takes up the republican commonplace that the desire for esteem is what could motivate the fulfilment of duties of civic virtue. This commonplace, however, has become problematic through the discussion of the problem of human corruption in philosophers such as Blaise Pascal (1623-1662) and Nicolas Malebranche (1638Malebranche ( -1715. In this article, I will show that Mably takes this problem seriously. However, his critique of Malebranche's solution to this problem and his critique of the economic reinterpretation of Malebranche's concept of natural order in the work of Le Mercier de la Rivière (1719-1801) motivate his own republican defense of the moral value of the desire for esteem. What makes this defense plausible is his argument that distorted esteem derives from imagination that is distorted, not only as a result of natural factors, but in many cases rather as a result of misguided politics. If some cases of distorted esteem derive from misguided politics, Mably argues, then they can be modified by republican constitution building that modifies the imagination of citizens.

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“…Nous vendrons notre liberté à vil prix, parce que nous sommes incapables d'en connoître la valeur.' On Mably's critique of luxury, seeGalliani (1975),Ferrand and Orain (2017).…”

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Mably on Esteem, Republicanism, and the Question of Human Corruption

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2021

Journal of Modern Philosophy

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“…The latter, the abbé de Mably, can be regarded as the representative of the system.” Note also that Rousseau does not like all the features of Lacedaemon and, unlike Mably (cf. Ferrand and Orain 2017), is disturbed by slavery in Sparta; “most cruel slavery” mars “most perfect liberty”: “plus cruel esclavage au sein de la plus parfaite liberté” ([1752b] 2012b, p. 54; cf. [1762] 1987, III.15, where a similar observation is repeated).…”

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In the Shadow of Lacedaemon: Luxury, Wealth and Early-Modern Republican Thought

Regent¹

2019

J Hist Econ Thought

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The article examines Sparta’s influence on the treatment of luxury and wealth in early-modern republican thought, analyzing three key thinkers: Francesco Guicciardini, Montesquieu and Abbé de Mably. In this view, unnecessary wealth and, particularly, consumption over a certain limited level, is a pernicious extravagance that harms virtue and leads to corruption of the commonwealth that allows it. Both the direct influence of the Spartan example and the correlative Platonic ideal, inspired by the Lacedaemonians, are analyzed; the influence of Plutarch is emphasized. Special attention is given to the distinction between the Platonic account, with the twin dangers of both wealth and poverty, and a simpler, binary opposition of virtuous poverty vs. corrupting wealth. Guicciardini’s and Mably’s views are closely examined; for Montesquieu, the article traces the decisive role Plato plays in Montesquieu’s account of luxury, and analyzes his almost unknown work,Dialogue de Xantippe, showing the importance of Sparta for Montesquieu’s idea of republic.

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About Physiocracy: A Review Article Incorporating Some Remarks on An Important Letter of Galiani and on The Dissemination and Readership of Quesnay’s Works*

Sabbagh

2020

Contributions to Political Economy

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Abbé De Mably on Commerce, Luxury, and “Classical Republicanism”

Cited by 5 publications

References 10 publications

Mably on Esteem, Republicanism, and the Question of Human Corruption

Mably on Esteem, Republicanism, and the Question of Human Corruption

In the Shadow of Lacedaemon: Luxury, Wealth and Early-Modern Republican Thought

About Physiocracy: A Review Article Incorporating Some Remarks on An Important Letter of Galiani and on The Dissemination and Readership of Quesnay’s Works*

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