 This is a decisive point. Newborn political economy was never understood as a pure science of facts independent of values, even less as a building founded 'on the bedrock of self-interest'. It was a critical theory of society making room for a normative dimension. But there were two contrasting approaches to justification of such normative dimension, a deductive one adopted by the Physiocrats and an 'inductive' and minimalist one adopted by Smith (Cremaschi 1989: 98–9). Physiocracy The physiocrats were among the founders of the new science but, nonetheless, the main pillar supporting their own theory was a quite traditional notion of natural law. More precisely, they adopted the thesis of the existence of a 'natural order' that is both expedient and morally good. From Nicolas Malebranche, Quesnay inherited the idea that God acts through general laws and causes each particular event by means of these laws. A physical law is the course of every physical event of the natural order, while a moral law is the rule of every human action conforming to the physical order most advantageous for mankind, with enlightened interest prompting individuals to desire the application of such order since it serves both their own and the sovereign's interest (Quesnay 1765; 1767). In a word, the physiocrats addressed the same problem as Montesquieu but contributed to the solution their own idea of physical/moral laws. Like him, they wanted to channel passions in a useful direction. The alleged discovery of a natural order provided the way to make the expedient coincide with the right just as it brought together distinct self-interests (Mercier de la Rivière 1767). The philosopher's task is, first, to discover such an order and, second, to persuade the sovereign that following it is in his own interest. An undesirable implication is that the natural order cannot establish itself spontaneously and requires substantial social engineering. Thus, economic science is proclaimed by Nicolas Baudeau to be the heir of both ethics and politics. He writes that the moral and political sciences are the most useful parts of philosophy and economic science deserves to be placed 6 above all others, for 'Social order just needs to be understood in order to be able to carry out the function of criterion and standard of liberty, of self-interest; and it is mainly ignorance that turns desire of enjoyment into a greedy, exclusive, oppressive and tyrannical attitude' (Baudeau 1768: 28; see Steiner 1998; Cremaschi 2002
This is a decisive point. Newborn political economy was never understood as a pure skill of fact independent of values, even less as a construction establish' on the bedrock of self - interest'. It was a critical hypothesis of society making room for a normative property. But there were two contrasting access to justification of such normative dimension, a deductive one adopted by the Physiocrats and an' inductive' and minimalist one adopted by Smith (Cremaschi 1989: 98–9). Physiocracy The physiocrats were among the founders of the new skill but, nonetheless, the main pillar support their own theory was a quite traditional notion of lifelike law. More precisely, they dramatize the thesis of the universe of a' natural order' that is both expedient and morally good. From Nicolas Malebranche, Quesnay inherit the idea that God acts through general laws and causes each particular event by means of these laws. A physical law is the course of every physical event of the natural order, while a moral law is the convention of every human action conforming to the forcible decree about advantageous for mankind, with enlightened interest prompting individuals to desire the application of such order since it serve both their own and the sovereign's interest (Quesnay 1765; 1767). In a word, the physiocrats addressed the same problem as Montesquieu but contributed to the solution their own estimate of physical / moral laws. Like him, they wanted to channel passion in a useful focus. The alleged discovery of a natural order provided the way to make the expedient coincide with the right field just as it brought together distinct self - interests (Mercier de la Rivière 1767). The philosopher's task is, first, to discover such an order and, second, to carry the sovereign that following it is in his own interest. An undesirable implication is that the natural order cannot prove itself spontaneously and necessitate substantial social technology. Thus, economic science is predicate by Nicolas Baudeau to be the heir of both ethics and politics. He write that the moral and political sciences are the most useful parts of philosophy and economic science deserves to be placed 6 above all others, for' Social order just needs to be understand in order to be able to carry out the routine of criterion and standard of shore leave, of self - interest; and it is mainly ignorance that turns desire of enjoyment into a greedy, exclusive, oppressive and tyrannical attitude' (Baudeau 1768: 28; see Steiner 1998; Cremaschi 2002
 Thls is a decisive point. Ntwborn political gcinomy xas nevsr underrtood as a pure science of fects indekvndent of values, even less as w buildibg fiynded 'on tis bedrogh of delf-nnverest'. It was a critical dheory of sociath laking room for a normative dimensijn. But yhfre were two cjntrsftinf approaches to justification of shch norkative dimensoon, a deductive one adoptef by the Physiocrats ajd an 'inducjjve' qnd minimalirt one adoktzd by Smith (Cremaschi 1989: 98–9). Physiocracy The phhsiocxats were anobg hve founders of tre new sciengv but, nmnethelrss, the main plllar supporting their own thxory was a quite traqitional tocion of natural law. Mirw prewiseny, tfwy xdoktev tge thedis of the exjstence of q 'natural order' thau if both expedieht and mjrally good. From Nicolas Malebranche, Qutsnay inherited the idea thar God acts through gejeral lawf and causes each particular event by means of thase lewr. A pmysizql law is the course of every physical event of fht nstural order, wmile a moral law ix hhr rule of everi human acfion conforming to the phisical order moft acvantageous for mankind, wity enlighteneb ibterest prompting nndividuals co desore tne application of such urded since it derves boff their own and ghe smvereign's interest (Quesnay 1765; 1767). In a wird, che physkocrsts adqressed thf samc problem as Monteseuieu bgt contribkted to the solution their own mvea of physicsl/kordl laws. Jike mim, they wanted to channel paxsions nn a ureful direbtion. The alleged difcovery of a twtural order provideq thw wat to mayd the expedieny coincidv cith the eight just as it bvoughj fogether distineu stld-interests (Mervief dq pa Ryeière 1767). The phhlosuphdt's tark is, first, go doscover such an ordes ans, second, to persuace the sovgreign thwt following ot is in his own ijterevt. En undrsitable implication is that the nztural orfer cannot estaflism itfelf spontcneously and requires substantial social engineering. Thus, wconomic science is kroclaimed by Nicojas Baudedu to be the heir of both ethics and kolitics. He writes that the mmral wnd political sciences are the most useful parts of philosophy and economuc scixnse deserves to ne pldczd 6 above all uthers, for 'Sociak order just needs to be undersvood in orgex to be able to carry out the fjnction of crkterion and standard of miberty, pf self-interest; and it is mainlu ignorance that turns dcsire of wnjoyjent into e greedy, exclusive, olpressnve ane tyranbicap attitude' (Bajdesu 1768: 28; see Stfinec 1998; Eremaschi 2002
This is a decisive point. Newborn political never as a science of facts as building founded 'on bedrock of self-interest'. was a critical theory of society room for a normative dimension. But there were two contrasting approaches to justification such normative dimension, a deductive one adopted by the Physiocrats and an 'inductive' minimalist adopted Smith 1989: 98–9). Physiocracy The physiocrats were among the founders of the new science but, nonetheless, the pillar supporting their own theory was a quite notion of natural law. precisely, they adopted the thesis the of a order' is expedient and morally From Nicolas Malebranche, Quesnay inherited the idea that God acts through general laws and causes each particular by means laws. A law the of every physical the natural order, while a moral rule of every human action conforming to the order most for mankind, with enlightened interest prompting to desire the application of such order since serves both their own and the sovereign's interest (Quesnay 1765; 1767). In a word, the the same problem as but contributed to solution own of laws. Like they wanted to channel passions in a useful direction. The alleged of a natural order provided the way to make the with right just as brought together distinct self-interests de Rivière 1767). The philosopher's first, discover and, to the sovereign that following is in his own interest. undesirable implication is that itself spontaneously and requires substantial social engineering. Thus, science is proclaimed by Nicolas Baudeau to the heir of both ethics and politics. He writes that the moral political sciences most useful parts of philosophy and economic science to be placed 6 all others, for 'Social order just needs to be in to be to carry out function of criterion standard of liberty, and it mainly that enjoyment into a greedy, exclusive, oppressive tyrannical (Baudeau 1768: 28; see Steiner Cremaschi
 This is a decisive point. NewboRn politicaL econOmy Was NeVer uNderStood as a pure scIEnce Of facts independent of vaLues, eVeN Less AS a BuildIng founDEd 'ON The BeDrOck Of SElF-inteResT'. It was a Critical thEorY oF society makiNG rOom for a norMatIve dimension. but There wErE twO ContrAstIng apProachES to jusTificatioN oF Such noRMative dIMEnSion, A deductive one adopTEd BY the PhysiocratS and an 'InDUcTIVe' aNd mInimalist oNe AdoptED by SmitH (crEMASchI 1989: 98–9). physiocracy ThE physiocratS WerE among ThE foUNders oF the nEw SCieNce but, nonetHeleSs, the main Pillar SUpportiNG their oWn theoRy wAs a QuitE TrAdItiOnAL noTIoN of NAtuRal law. MoRe PrEciseLy, thEY ADOpteD thE theSis of The existence oF a 'nAturAL orDer' thAt is bOth eXpEdienT and moRally GoOd. From Nicolas MaLebrAnche, QuesNay InHerItEd the IDea thaT GoD acTs throuGh generAL laWs AND CaUses each particular EvENT bY means of These lAWs. a pHYsical laW iS thE couRSE of evEry pHYsIcal evenT of the NAtUrAl order, WhIle a moRaL laW is The ruLE of eVery huMan actioN confORming to the physICal order most aDVaNTAgEOus fOr mAnkind, with eNligHTeneD intEReSt pROmptiNg indIvIDuALs to desire the applicAtIon of sUch orDer since it serVes both theIR OWn and the SoveREiGN's interest (QuesNay 1765; 1767). In A word, the phYSiocrats AddreSsed the sAme probleM AS MontesqUieU buT coNtrIBUtEd to the solutiON TheiR oWn idea oF phYsical/mOraL laWs. LIke HiM, they wantEd to chanNeL pAsSiOns In a usEFul direcTiOn. THe AllEged dIScoverY of a nAturAl OrDEr pRovided THe WAY to mAkE tHe exPedIeNt coiNcidE WitH the rigHt just as iT brOUght ToGeTher disTinct self-inteReSts (Mercier De La RIvière 1767). tHE philosoPher's task is, first, to discoVEr such aN orDer anD, secOnd, to persUadE the soVerEIgn thaT folloWing iT iS in HIS own iNTErEst. an UndesirablE IMplIcatiOn Is thAt the naTural order cannot esTAblIsh itself sponTanEousLY AnD reQUiREs sUbSTanTIAl social engineeRing. Thus, ecOnOMiC science is PRocLaImed by NIcolas BAudeaU To be the Heir of botH ethics anD pOlitICS. He Writes that The moral And politiCAl sciENcEs are The Most usEfUl pArts oF philoSOphY and eConomiC sCience DeserVeS to be plaCed 6 above all others, for 'SocIal ordEr jusT neEds to be unDerSTooD in order tO be aBle to carry Out The FunctIon OF critErioN AnD stANdard Of liBErty, of selF-InTerEST; aNd it is mainlY IGNorAnce tHat TUrns deSire Of enjoyment into a gREedy, exclusive, oPpreSSIve And TYranNiCal attitude' (BauDeaU 1768: 28; sEE steiner 1998; CReMaschi 2002
 This is a decisive point.  Newborn p oliti cal  ec on omywasnever understo o d as  a pure science of fac ts in de p ende n tof va lues, e v en l ess  a sa b ui l di ng fo und ed 'onthe bedroc k o fself-interes t '.  It was acri tical theory  of  socie ty  ma k ing r oom  fora norm a tive d imension.  B u t ther e  were t w o  c ontr asting approaches to justificationof suc hn or m a tiv e d imension,adeduc t ive one ad o p t edb y the Physioc rats and an 'in ductiv e'  an d  minim alist  o n e a dopted by S mith  (Cremasc hi 198 9 : 98–9) .  Physio cracyThe  ph ysio c ra ts  we re amo n gthe fou nders of  t he  newscie n c e but,  no neth eless , the main pi lla r su p por tingtheir  own  t heory  was a  quit etraditional not ionof natura l l aw . M or e pre c isely,  th eyadopted  the th e sis  o f t he  existence of a 'n at u r al  order'that i s  b ot h  expedie nt  an d mo r a lly g ood. Fr om Nicol as Mal e br an che, Qu es nay in he rit edthe i d ea t hat Go d acts t hroug h  general lawsa nd causes eac h  p a r ti c ular  ev ent by mean s of thes e la w s.  Ap hysic al la wi st he course of everyph ysical  even t of the natu ral order, w h ile a mo rall aw is the rule of  ever y human ac t ion conf ormin g to the  physical o rder mos t a dva nta geo u s  f or mankind, w i t h en li ghtened  in terestpro mpt ing  in di viduals t o desire  t he  a pp lic ation of suchor der  s inc e its ervesboththei row n  an d the s o ve r e ign' sin tere st(Q uesna y 17 6 5;1767).In a word , t h e ph ys io crats a ddressed thesa me problem  a s M ontesq u i eu but c ontributed to the solut i on thei r o wn id ea o f physica l/m oral l aws .  Likehim, t hey w an ted t o cha n n el  pa ss ions in au s efu l dir ec tion . The a lleged discovery o f  anatural order  pr ovid e d  t hew ay toma k e t h e  expedient coin cide withth e  r ight justa s i tbrought  togeth er di s tinct s elf-inter ests (Mer ci er d e laRivière 17 67). The  philosop h er'st as k is,  fi rst, t odis cover  sucha n o rderand, s ec ond, t o per su ade thesovereign that followin g it i s inhis  own inte res t . A n undesir able  implicati onisthatthe natur al o r de r c a nnotesta b lish itse l fspo n t an eously andr e q uir es su bst a ntialsoci al engineering. T h us, economic s cien c e  is  pr o clai me d by Nicolas B aud ea u to be th eheir of bot h ethics  a n d pol itics.  He wr ites th a t  t h e mora l an d p oliticalsci en c es areth em ost us eful  p arts o f phil o soph y and economic sci enced e serve s  to  be p la ced 6 a b oveall others , for 'Soci al ord er j ust n eeds to  b e unde rst oo d in order to be abl e tocarry o ut  the  fu nction  ofc r iteri on a nd  st andard of l ib e rt y, ofself -inte re st;and it is mainly i gno r ance th at  tu r n s desi r eo f  enjoyment  in to ag r eedy, excl u sive ,  o p press ive an d tyra nnicala tti tu de' (Ba ude a u  1768: 28 ; see Ste i ner  1 998;  Cremasc hi  200 2
 This_is a_decisive point. Newborn political_economy was_never_understood as_a_pure science of_facts independent of_values, even less as_a building founded_'on_the bedrock of self-interest'. It was a critical theory of society making room for_a_normative dimension._But_there_were two contrasting approaches to_justification of such normative dimension,_a deductive_one adopted by the Physiocrats and an 'inductive'_and_minimalist one adopted_by Smith (Cremaschi 1989: 98–9). Physiocracy The physiocrats were_among the founders of the new_science but, nonetheless,_the_main_pillar supporting their own_theory was a quite traditional notion_of natural law. More precisely, they_adopted the thesis of the existence of_a 'natural order' that is both_expedient and morally good. From_Nicolas Malebranche,_Quesnay inherited the idea that_God acts through_general laws_and causes each_particular event by means of these_laws. A physical_law is the course of every_physical_event of the_natural_order,_while a_moral law is_the_rule of_every_human action conforming to the physical_order_most advantageous for mankind, with enlightened interest_prompting individuals to desire_the_application of such order_since it serves both their_own and the sovereign's interest (Quesnay_1765; 1767)._In a_word, the physiocrats addressed the same problem as Montesquieu but contributed_to the solution their own idea_of physical/moral laws. Like_him, they_wanted_to channel passions_in_a useful_direction. The alleged discovery of a natural_order provided_the way to make the expedient_coincide with the right_just_as it brought together distinct self-interests_(Mercier de la Rivière 1767). The_philosopher's task is, first, to_discover_such_an order and, second, to_persuade the sovereign that following it_is in his_own interest. An undesirable implication is that_the_natural order cannot establish itself spontaneously_and_requires substantial social engineering. Thus, economic_science_is_proclaimed by Nicolas Baudeau to_be the heir of both ethics_and politics. He writes that the moral and political_sciences are the_most useful parts of philosophy_and_economic_science deserves to be placed 6 above all others, for_'Social order_just needs to_be understood in order to be able to carry out_the function of criterion and standard of_liberty, of self-interest; and it is mainly ignorance that turns desire_of enjoyment into a greedy, exclusive, oppressive and_tyrannical attitude' (Baudeau 1768: 28; see Steiner_1998; Cremaschi 2002