Jean Antoine Chaptal: from chemistry to political economy

Abstract

The article studies to which extent the economic ideas of Jean Antoine Chaptal were conditioned by his education and knowledge as a chemist. Chaptal's life and activities and the main elements of his economic thought as expressed in his written works suggest certain relationships between his education as scientist, doctor and chemist, and his economic thought. Chaptal's place in the history of economic thought is discussed, especially those opinions that define him as a neo-mercantilist, or as an economist of the nation in the pure industrialist sense. But on a closer analysis, Chaptal can be defined as an industrialist physiocrat as a result of his training.

Keywords:

• Chaptal
• Lavoisier
• industrialism
• protectionism