Podcast Summary: "Bernard Mandeville with John Callanan" (Subscriber Preview)
Podcast: This Guy Sucked
Host: Dr. Claire Aubin
Guest: Dr. John Callanan (King’s College London)
Episode Date: November 20, 2025
Episode Overview
This special “This Guy Rocked” episode spotlights Bernard Mandeville, an early 18th-century thinker infamous for his provocative ideas and lasting influence. Historian Dr. Claire Aubin welcomes philosopher Dr. John Callanan, author of The Mind and Times of Bernard Mandeville: The Wickedest Man in Europe, for a nuanced look at a man both hated and influential. The conversation traverses archival joys, academic reading habits, and, most importantly, the cultural and philosophical legacy of Mandeville—challenging listeners to reconsider notorious figures and their impact.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
The Joy and Practice of Archival Research
- Academic Serendipity:
- Dr. Callanan shares stories of discovery in archives, emphasizing the unpredictability and thrill of finding “secret codes” in obscure primary sources.
- “I found this passage in Pierre Bale and I realized that Mandeville was quoting it and flipping some concepts around and just using it. ... I felt like I discovered a secret code.” — Dr. John Callanan [02:44]
- Both scholars agree much archival work is reading “useless” texts that later become crucial, illustrating the hidden value in broad, unfocused research.
- Dr. Callanan shares stories of discovery in archives, emphasizing the unpredictability and thrill of finding “secret codes” in obscure primary sources.
Reflection on Academic Norms and Reading Habits
- Wide vs. Narrow Reading:
- Dr. Callanan critiques the culture in philosophy of focusing too narrowly on single texts, advocating for the pleasure and necessity of wide reading:
- “Why I went into academia was the pleasure of reading widely rather than going over the same text again and again in a sort of Talmudic fashion...” — Dr. John Callanan [04:43]
- Claire and John praise interdisciplinary and out-of-field reading, sharing strategies like “thinking groups” to enrich their perspectives.
- Dr. Callanan critiques the culture in philosophy of focusing too narrowly on single texts, advocating for the pleasure and necessity of wide reading:
Bernard Mandeville: Life, Infamy, and Influence
-
Why Mandeville Matters:
- Dr. Callanan positions Mandeville as pivotal but underappreciated, noting his huge impact on “everyone from Rousseau to Adam Smith ... even Nietzsche, certainly Marx, John Maynard Keynes and even Darwin.” [07:53-08:35]
- Mandeville’s notoriety made him a target—many famous thinkers denounced him in writing but then borrowed or expanded upon his concepts.
-
Life Before The Fable of the Bees:
- Born in Rotterdam, 1670; came from a family of physicians and politicians.
- Involved in political scandal at a young age (over tax riots and a killing), leading to his exclusion from Rotterdam and eventual emigration to London.
- “He got caught up in a political scandal ... William of Orange ... took over and basically banished Mandeville from Rotterdam as a result. He was only about 20 at this stage, so there was no chance anymore of him having any kind of political future in Rotterdam.” — Dr. John Callanan [11:37]
- Spent years establishing himself as a physician and minor writer in England before breaking through.
The “Fable of the Bees” & Mandeville’s Big Break
- From Poem to Notoriety:
- Initially wrote a satirical poem, “The Grumbling Hive,” making fun of political morality. It was obscure at first.
- In 1723, repackaged the poem with commentary as “The Fable of the Bees”—and was suddenly infamous, charged in court with impiety.
- “That little satirical poem suddenly blows up. ... Suddenly, over the course of two or three years, everybody is writing against him and he becomes hugely famous.” — Dr. John Callanan [13:35]
- The fame allowed him to influence an entire generation of philosophical, economic, and social thinkers.
Thematic Threads in Mandeville’s Work
-
Medical Insights to Moral Philosophy:
- Early medical writings on hypochondria and hysteria already hinted at deeper questions about society and human behavior.
- “He’s interested in the interplay between human beings as physical, embodied animals and the sociological features of groups that play on that.” — Dr. John Callanan [15:54]
- Mandeville offered proto-psychological insights, noting how much patient well-being depended on social, psychological, and situational factors—anticipating ideas like the placebo effect and even strands of psychoanalysis.
- Early medical writings on hypochondria and hysteria already hinted at deeper questions about society and human behavior.
-
On Notoriety and Influence:
- Mandeville seemed to relish his bad reputation, and his notoriety paradoxically helped his ideas spread—albeit often unattributed and after others repackaged them.
- “It’s his evil reputation, which we should say from the outset, he really enjoyed having. Part of his character is. He enjoyed being thought of in this way. He was a controversialist...” — Dr. John Callanan [09:39]
- Mandeville seemed to relish his bad reputation, and his notoriety paradoxically helped his ideas spread—albeit often unattributed and after others repackaged them.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On the thrill of archival discovery:
“In that moment, I felt like I discovered a secret code to how this text should be read. That's super exciting.”
— John Callanan [02:44] -
Academic frustration:
“If I go looking for something, I never find anything interesting. You have to just be reading for fun.”
— John Callanan [02:38] -
On the job of a historian:
“A lot of it is you taking photos on your phone and reading them at home. ... But their uselessness does not preclude them from being useful. Which sounds wild...”
— Claire Aubin [03:38] -
Comparing medical practice and philosophical insight:
“He is incredibly funny about it. It's all about the psychology that's involved in wanting to be liked by your doctor, for example, is a really important thing.”
— John Callanan [15:54] -
Mandeville as proto-psychologist:
“He thinks like that's a large portion of what if you do get better, it's usually because you're feeling better about being heard by your doctor ... Or just being given some scientific data that you don't really understand. Like that just feels great...”
— John Callanan [15:54]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:00-02:18 — Intro, guest welcome, stories of archival discovery
- 02:18-04:43 — The process and passion behind historical research
- 04:43-07:53 — Academic reading cultures; value of reading outside your field
- 07:53-10:36 — Overview of Bernard Mandeville’s importance and legacy
- 10:36-13:35 — Mandeville’s life story: the scandal, exile, settling in England
- 13:35-15:54 — The “Fable of the Bees,” sudden fame, and notoriety’s paradox
- 15:54-17:16 — Mandeville’s writings as proto-psychology and social theory
Tone & Cultural Reflections
The episode is lively, irreverent, and candid, reflecting both host and guest’s scholarly curiosity and willingness to poke fun at academic conventions—and at history’s “worst guys.” Dr. Aubin’s playful tone and Dr. Callanan’s dry humor blend to make the episode engaging even for listeners unfamiliar with Mandeville or academic philosophy.
In sum, this preview offers a fascinating introduction to Bernard Mandeville—the man everyone loved to hate, the radical whose ideas quietly shaped centuries of thought, and a timely reminder to look past a villain’s reputation for the surprising legacy they may leave behind.