Politics and Economics

by Frédéric Bastiat

　　 [Now let us return to a subject that was briefly discussedin the opening pages of this thesis: the relationship of economicsand of politics -- political economy.*]

　　 *Translator's note: Mr. Bastiat has devoted three otherbooks and several articles to the development of the ideas containedin the three sentences of the following paragraph.

　　A science of economics must be developed before a science ofpolitics can be logically formulated. Essentially, economics is thescience of determining whether the interests of human beings areharmonious or antagonistic. This must be known before a science ofpolitics can be formulated to determine the proper functions ofgovernment.

　　Immediately following the development of a science of economics,and at the very beginning of the formulation of a science of politics,this all-important question must be answered: What is law? What oughtit to be? What is its scope; its limits? Logically, at what point dothe just powers of the legislator stop?

　　I do not hesitate to answer: Law is the common force organized toact as an obstacle to injustice. In short, law is justice.