Abstract: Recent researches on commercial sociability and commercial states reveal the great progress made by the eighteenth century political and moral theorists compared with their predecessors in the seventeenth century, and the relevance of their thought to our contemporary society. However, scholars have not yet noticed Mandeville's contribution in this regard. This paper demonstrates the importance of Mandeville's theoretical contribution in two aspects. Firstly, Mandeville's theory of "sociableness" shows how commercial prosperity and luxury in a society are based on hypocrisy and politeness, which are further supported by the deep-rooted pride in human nature. This new theory changes the Hobbesian version of human nature and provides a key to understanding the logic of commercial society. Secondly, Mandeville keenly points out the complex relationships between politics and commercial society. The state is essential in establishing and maintaining orders in a large commercial society, which in turn plays a crucial role for the survival of the state in international competition. In fact, Mandeville's acceptance of a morally dubious commercial society grows out of his sober awareness of international circumstances. His profound insight into the political power and moral dilemmas of the commercial society has decisively shaped the trend of political and moral philosophy thereafter. Only by incorporating moral and political perspectives into our inquires can we better grasp the theoretical significance of "commercial society".

Key words: Mardeville, commercial society, moral philosophy, political philosophy, sociableness