Frederic Bastiat Quotes
Are we really certain that the mechanism of society, like the mechanism of the heavenly bodies or the mechanism of the human body, is subject to general laws? Are we really certain that it is a harmoniously organized whole? Or is it not true that what is most notable in society is the absence of all order?
Bastiat raised the possibility that economics and social science cannot be analyzed because it follows no laws like the hard sciences. See {620083} for a modern variant.
Frederic Bastiat, 1801-1850, French Political Economist, Economic Harmonies, 1850
Sourced by: Eigen's Political and Historical Quotations
Under perfectly controlled conditions, man and every other organism behaves as it damn well pleases.
See {620073} for a broad classic philosophical view that is similar.
Lev Davidovich Bronstein
This was the literal name he gave to what we now call Sociology. Khaldoun is generally credited with being the father of Sociology.
Most people are surprised that this is a reality of something like physics although sophisticated philosophers have been making this point with respect to human relations for many years. Politics is a particularly good example where conflicting realities can both exist at the same time.
- Born: June 30, 1801
- Died: December 24, 1850
- Nationality: French
- Profession: Economist
Claude-Frédéric Bastiat was a French economist, writer and a prominent member of the French Liberal School.
