Description
Book SynopsisPrompted by the linguistic turn' of the late 20th century, intellectual and conceptual historians continue to devote a great deal of attention to the study of concepts in history. This innovative and interdisciplinary volume builds on such scholarship by providing a new history of the term economy'. Starting from the Greek idea of the law of the household, Luigi Alonzi traces the different meanings assumed by the word economy' during the middle ages and early modern era, highlighting the semantic richness of the word and its uses in various political and cultural contexts. Notably, there is a particular focus on the so-called
Oeconomica literature, tracking the reception of works by Plato, Aristotle, the ''pseudo'' Aristotle and Xenophon in the Italian and France Renaissance. This tradition was incredibly influential in civic humanism and in texts devoted to power and command and thus affected later debates on Natural Law and the development of new scientific disciplines in the
Trade ReviewLuigi Alonzi’s groundbreaking book is situated at the crossroads between philology and economics. His close analysis of concepts ranges from ancient Greece to the eighteenth century and from household management, via moral philosophy, to political economy. He offers fresh insights into both the intellectual and the economic history of preindustrial Europe. * Peter Burke, Emeritus Professor of Cultural History, Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge, UK *
An eloquently written and clearly argued work, Alonzi’s book provides illuminates insights into the complex trajectories of the concept of economy across different times of European history. With remarkable interdisciplinary breadth and empirical depth, it makes an intriguing case for transformations, confrontations and non-teleological narratives of the concept’s plural pasts. * Alexandra Lianeri, Assistant Professor, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece *
Table of ContentsIntroduction
Part I. Oeconomica: From Ancient Times to the Middle Ages and Renaissance 1. The 'Classical' Discoursse of the Oeconomica 2. The Oeconomica from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance
Part II. Household Management and Power to Command 3. Oeconomy and Politics in Italy 4. Oeconomy and Politics in France
Part III. Lexicography of Oesconmia and discourses upon the Scientia eoconomica 5. Oeconomia: Dictionaries and Encyclopedias 6. Scientia Oeconomica and Natural Law
Part IV. Semantic of Economy: Order and Administration 7. The Adjectiv 'Oeconomic': Economic Prudence, Economic Order, Economic Commerce 8. The Noun 'Oeconomy': Economy of Religion, Economy of Nature, Animal Economy
Part V. The Renaissance of the Term 'Political Economy' 9. Commerce, Finance and the Origins of Political Oeconomy 10. The New Life of the Term 'Political Oeconomy' Select Bibliography Index
