Quesnay, le langage et le « langage de la science économique »

Abstract

abstract : In previous works we have shown the importance of François Quesnay 's (1694-1774) written works in the creation of neologisms to denote the new concepts of economics and the importance of these neologisms for the emergence of this science in the 18th century. In this paper, we try to carry on the analysis of the connection between language and the emergence of a new scientific field, by investigating the problematics of language in Quesnay' s thought. We examine three complementary aspects of this question : Quesnay' s general ideas on language which are expressed in his philosophical works ; the way Quesnay has progressively developed a specialised terminology in his economic works, and, finally, his answers to the numerous criticisms that were levelled at his terminology. We show how the necessity of conveying a new conceptual set has led Quesnay to a specific practice of language in his economics' works, perhaps far removed from his own ideas on language,