This Guy Sucked Bernard Mandeville with John Callanan (Subscriber Preview)
Nov 20, 2025
Join John Callanan, a Reader in Philosophy at King's College London and author of 'Man-Devil: The Mind and Times of Bernard Mandeville,' as he delves into the fascinating life of Bernard Mandeville. Discover thrilling archival finds that shaped his research and learn how 'useless' texts can hold vital insights. John discusses Mandeville's infamous reputation and his surprising influence on renowned thinkers, along with his transition from medical practice to literary fame. A captivating exploration of philosophy and historical significance awaits!
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Archive Discoveries That Opened The Text
- John Callanan describes finding a passage in Pierre Bale that unlocked reading Mandeville's text as intentional quotation and inversion.
- He also found a pamphlet predecessor that Mandeville was clearly attacking, which suddenly clarified Mandeville's targets.
Read Widely And Save Archive Photos
- Claire Aubin and John advise keeping wide, sometimes 'pointless' reading because it seeds later discoveries.
- Take photos in archives and revisit them; unexpected documents often become crucial later.
Wide Reading Reveals Intellectual Networks
- Callanan felt constrained by narrow academic reading norms and switched to reading widely to recover intellectual context.
- He pursued Mandeville to read more broadly and trace the texts those thinkers themselves read.
