After reading this week’s readings on commerce and virtue, one of the texts that stood out was Mandeville’s The Fable of the Bees, specifically the passage of the grumbling hives. the idea that private vices like greed and luxury can lead to public benefits that kind of contradict each other. mandeville argues that greed and indulgence are the factors that are necessary for thriving in an economy. It sounds counterintitutive, but it makes sense when you think about our daily consumerism. for example, if no one splurged on luxury items, then high-end industries would probably exit, and many of those high-paying jobs would not be available. One example would be us buying a $7 latte because it “supports the local bakery.” i would also argue that commerce has an identity; just as Mandeville saw London as the center of economic activity, New York is also a city of endless spending. Commerce knits people together, and it is visible from the diversity of street vendors to popular brands that define the image of Times Square.

A possible discussion question: if we want a nourishing economy, is it okay to accept a little selfishness?