The book focuses on methodology, argument and context of 18th century philosopher Christian Wolff’s last book, the Oeconomica. This work, a rationalist guide to household morality, is discussed in conjunction with Wolff''s natural law-based welfare state theory. A case study at a cross-section of philosophy, political science and history, it dissects the ideological conflation of private and public interest in the absolutist state.

The book focuses on methodology, argument and context of 18th century philosopher Christian Wolff’s last book, the Oeconomica. This work, a rationalist guide to household morality, is discussed in conjunction with Wolff''s natural law-based welfare state theory. A case study at a cross-section of philosophy, political science and history, it dissects the ideological conflation of private and public interest in the absolutist state.