Economics is the meeting place of these two worlds. Whilst the immediate concern of economics is policy in the “world of matter”, the key participant in economic life is the human being, whose ultimate purpose of participation is to do with the “world of spirit”. Hence economics meets these two realms, stands at their interface. Its task is to ensure the rule of justice. This book is aimed at presenting a common-sense, first-principles, philosophical perspective on a vital subject that seems to have lost its way. There is such a thing as justice, there is such a thing as truth; and these two need not be lost forever. This book suggests that solutions can be found by returning to first principles: • Economics is the knowledge to support and encourage prosperity whilst managing human greed. • Economics is to provide for the practical possibility of every individual fully developing his or her potential as an intelligent, creative, happy being. • Economics is the institution and protection of the reign of economic freedom.