Books

First edition of the author's last book. The final instalment of a long string of incendiary treatises which so incensed his contemporaries, following his tracts attacking Christian ethics, defending brothels and opposing charity schools, Mandeville here turns to the readiness with which Christianity can be perverted to militarism, and asserts that honour is no more than pride. As with his Fable of the Bees, Part II (1729, an entirely different work to the first part) the treatise takes the form of a dialogue between two interlocutors, Cleomenes and Horatio. "Mandeville repeated his view that the passions of pride and shame are both forms of self-liking. Honour and (worldly) religion are treated as devices that are useful for socializing humans. Honour is discovered to be even less demanding than virtue or the artificial courage discussed in the Fable of the Bees. The work again reveals Mandeville's anti-clericalism in his account of how a perverted version of the truly peaceful doctrine of Christianity can be used to motivate soldiers" (ODNB). ESTC T59021; Kaye pp. 440ff. Octavo (197 X 123 mm). Contemporary panelled speckled calf, red morocco label, sprinkled edges. Ownership inscription of J. Arscott dated 1732 to title, engraved armorial bookplate of Sir William Molesworth to front pastedown. Small chip to head of spine, joints and corners a little rubbed; a crisp clean copy.