Bastiat's The Law: Justice, Plunder, and the Perversion of Law

Frédéric Bastiat’s The Law is an 1850 essay arguing that the purpose of government is to protect individual rights to life, liberty, and property. Bastiat condemns “legal plunder,” where the law is used to benefit one group at the expense of others, citing examples like tariffs and welfare. He warns that this perverts justice, exaggerates the importance of politics, and ultimately impoverishes society. The essay critiques various thinkers who advocated for state control over various aspects of life, arguing that such interventions infringe on individual liberty and lead to societal instability. Finally, Bastiat champions a free society, advocating for minimal government intervention and a return to the principle of law as organized justice.