Frédéric Bastiat on the Perversion of the Law

The French economist Frédéric Bastiat (1801–1850) is perhaps best known for his warnings about the perversion of the law. But what did he…

The French economist Frédéric Bastiat (1801–1850) is perhaps best known for his warnings about the perversion of the law. But what did he mean by it, and why should we care? In this blog post, we’ll discuss why Bastiat was worried about the perversion of the law and how it still applies to our lives today.

What is the Perversion of the Law?
Bastiat’s fundamental argument was that if laws are allowed to be used to benefit certain people or groups at the expense of others, then society will suffer in the long run. He argued that this was wrong because it violated a basic principle of human rights — namely, that no person should be able to use force or coercion to take away another person’s property or rights. Bastiat argued that we were violating our fundamental principles by allowing laws to accomplish this. 
 
Bastiat even went so far as to argue that laws should never be used as a tool for personal gain or political advantage. Instead, he argued that laws should only be used for one purpose — to protect individual rights and freedoms from those who would seek to violate them. This view has become known as “the non-aggression principle” — which states that no one should initiate force against another person’s property or rights.

How Does This Still Apply Today?
The concept of “the perversion of the law” is still relevant today. Although many countries have adopted systems of government which strive to ensure equal protection under the law, there are still situations where governments can abuse their power to benefit certain people or groups at the expense of others. For example, in some countries, politicians have been allowed to pass special laws enabling them to access resources or privileges that are not available to ordinary citizens. This behaviour is exactly what Bastiat warned us against — using laws as a tool for personal gain or political advantage instead of protecting individual rights and freedoms from those who would seek to violate them. 
 
Frédéric Bastiat believed passionately in individual liberty and justice for all people. As such, he warned us about the dangers of using laws for personal gain or political advantage instead of protecting individual rights and freedoms from those who would seek to violate them. His warnings are just as relevant today as they were when he wrote them nearly two centuries ago — if not more so! We must remember Bastiat’s words and strive towards ensuring fair and equitable treatment under our legal systems for society to remain free and just for everyone.