Œuvres Complètes de Frédéric Bastiat, tome 5

mises en ordre, revues et annotées d'après les manuscrits de l'auteur

Edited by Prosper Paillottet

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"Œuvres Complètes de Frédéric Bastiat, tome 5" by Frédéric Bastiat is a collection of economic pamphlets written in the mid-19th century. The volume focuses on themes of economic freedom, protectionism, and the philosophical underpinnings of property rights. Through his work, Bastiat aims to criticize state intervention and advocate for free exchange, arguing against the principles of spoliation and oppression. The beginning of the volume introduces Bastiat's argument against protectionist policies, addressing the Council of Agriculture, Manufactures, and Commerce. He engages with his opponents in a conversation that emphasizes the importance of free trade and the ethics surrounding property and justice. Bastiat frames his critique around a hypothetical scenario that exposes the contradictions and moral failings of protectionist legislation, showing how such laws ultimately lead to oppression and unrest. He asserts that when the law itself becomes an instrument of spoliation rather than a protector of rights, it undermines society's foundational principles.

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