Gabriel Bonnot de Mably

Gabriel Bonnot de Mably, born on March 14, 1709, in Mably, Loire, and died on April 2, 1785, in Paris, was a prominent French philosopher, historian, and writer during the Age of Enlightenment. Belonging to the *Noblesse de robe*, a class of hereditary judicial and administrative officials, Mably received his education from the Jesuits and later studied at the seminary of Saint-Sulpice. For a period in the 1740s, he was involved in diplomacy, serving as a confidant to Cardinal Tencin and undertaking missions such as negotiating an alliance with Prussia in 1743 and preparing terms for the Congress of Breda in 1746. However, a falling out with Cardinal Tencin led him to dedicate himself to scholarly pursuits. Mably was a close associate and friend of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, with whom he maintained a lifelong correspondence. His most famous work is "Entretiens de Phocion" (1763), a dialogue exploring the intersection of morality and politics. Posthumously published works, including an expanded "Histoire de France" and "Des droits et des devoirs du citoyen," had a significant impact on the French Revolution, influencing concepts of republicanism and communal ownership. Mably advocated for the abolition of private property, believing it fostered egotism, and championed social equality beyond mere legal equality. His ideas on virtue, the criticism of inherited privilege, and the pursuit of equality of needs resonated with those critical of the existing social order. His complete works were published in multiple editions posthumously, solidifying his legacy as an influential, albeit sometimes controversial, figure in political and social thought.