The Law by Frédéric Bastiat

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About this eBook

Author Bastiat, Frédéric, 1801-1850
Uniform Title La loi. English
Title The Law
Credits Produced by David Widger from page scans generously provided
by the Google Books Project, with a Creative Commons license
granted by the Ludwig von Mises Institute, Auburn, Alabama
Summary "The Law" by Frédéric Bastiat is a political essay written in the mid-19th century. The work serves as a staunch defense of individual rights and the negative role of government in societal matters. Bastiat articulates the philosophy that the true purpose of law should be to protect the life, liberty, and property of individuals rather than to serve as an instrument for plundering one class for the benefit of another, a concept he describes as "legal plunder." The opening of "The Law" introduces the central argument that law, when properly functioning, is an organization of natural rights meant to defend against injustice, not to administer wealth or dictate behavior. Bastiat expresses alarm about how the law has been perverted to become a tool of avarice and exploitation instead of a protector of the rights of individuals. He emphasizes that both greed and misguided philanthropy have corrupted the legal system, leading to a societal structure where individuals or groups seek to exploit the law for personal gain. This foundational idea sets the stage for the profound exploration of justice, property, and the dangers of government interference in personal liberties that Bastiat develops throughout the essay. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Language English
LoC Class K: Law in general, Comparative and uniform law, Jurisprudence
Subject Property
Subject Law -- Philosophy
Subject Justice, Administration of
Subject Law and socialism
Subject Socialism and liberty
Category Text
EBook-No. 44800
Release Date
Most Recently Updated Nov 6, 2014
Copyright Status Public domain in the USA.
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