The New Science of Man

The “New Science of Man” that arose during the eighteenth century was the beginning form of social science and its principles, which was illustrated best by philosophes such as David Hume, Francois Quesnay, the Physiocrats, and Adam Smith.
One of the first to bring about the subject of human nature as a science was David Hume. Hume, a Scottish philosopher, is a very important person in the history of philosophy. In his Treatise on Human Nature, Hume argued that a careful study of humans, their actions, and the experiences of human life would allow this new “science of man,” or social science.
Next, there was Francois Quesnay and the Physiocrats. Quesnay, the leader of the Physiocrats, was a highly successful court physician. Under Quesnay’s leadership, the Physiocrats came to be known as the fou...