Adam Smith actually denies de Mandeville’s assumption that man is inherently bad, saying that “the notions of this author are in almost every respect erroneous” (1790, p. 308). It is true that Smith spoke about the ‘selfishness of man’, but he did not understand ‘selfish’ in any negative sense (e.g. Griswold, 2006, p. 24ff).
Griswold, Charles L, Jr (2006). "Imagination." In K Haakonssen (Ed) The Cambridge companion to Adam Smith. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 22-56.
Adam Smith actually denies de Mandeville’s assumption that man is inherently bad, saying that “the notions of this author are in almost every respect erroneous” (1790, p. 308). It is true that Smith spoke about the ‘selfishness of man’, but he did not understand ‘selfish’ in any negative sense (e.g. Griswold, 2006, p. 24ff).
Griswold, Charles L, Jr (2006). "Imagination." In K Haakonssen (Ed) The Cambridge companion to Adam Smith. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 22-56.
Smith, Adam (1790). The theory of moral sentiments, 6th Edn. Indianapolis: Liberty Fund. Available: http://files.libertyfund.org/files/192/0141-01_Bk.pdf. Accessed: 20 Dec 2009.