The Law of Nature and Nations in the Mirror of the Academy of Fists: Reforms, Philosophy, Law and Economy

The chapter explores in an original way the thinking of the Academy of Fists in the light of the reorganization of studies in Lombardy. The comparison between the works published by the Verri brothers and Beccaria and the university project plans allows us to better understand crucial aspects of the thought of the members of the Academy of Fists, particularly the relationship between moral philosophy, natural law, public law and political economy. Rather than establishing a juxtaposition between these sciences, the Milanese thinkers aimed to articulate them within a unified perspective, which finds in morality its foundation and in the "jurist philosopher" the only person who is capable of identifying the true principles of man's science and guiding legislators in the government of society. Thanks to archival research, it has been possible to demonstrate that in the original university reform plans the teaching of cameral sciences was still included in the programme of public law.