Probably not. But discussions regarding the nature and productivity of capital had been going on among the physiocrats prior to him, especially by Quesnay, whom some identify as the "father of capital." Also, Boisguillebert had some discussions of it prior to them and Cantillon, and certainly was an influence on Turgot. BTW, Boisguillebert is identified by Schumpeter as the originator of the idea of general equilibrium, whoop-de-doo.
Further btw, Turgot is often identified as a "late physiocrat." Barkley Rosser ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ian Murray" <seamus2001 at home.com> To: <lbo-talk at lists.panix.com> Sent: Thursday, August 16, 2001 6:11 PM Subject: Re: Capitalism's rate of decay ( Communication)
>
>
>
> > Ian,
> > Depends on what you mean by its "modern
> > economic sense." Schumpeter identifies Cantillon
> > as having having used it in a somewhat "modern"
> > way prior to Turgot. Turgot's key innovation was to
> > argue that capital arose from voluntary saving, something
> > picked up and spread shortly thereafter by Adam Smith
> > (Turgot wrote in 1769).
> > BTW, the Romans used the term in the sense of the
> > principal of a loan, which is certainly one of its modern
> > economic senses, as well as using the term to describe
> > cattle. And, of course, if one wishes to increase a herd
> > of cattle, one must not kill them for consumption (at least
> > not right away), but must feed them. Hmmm.
> > Barkley Rosser
> =======
> Did Turgot get the idea from Cantillon?
>
> Ian
>
>