"La Ley" is a French political and philosophical essay written by Frédéric Bastiat in 1850. The work argues that the primary purpose of law is to protect individual rights, including life, liberty, and property. Bastiat emphasizes that the law should not be used to promote social justice or redistribute wealth, as this leads to legal plunder. In "La Ley," Bastiat critiques the misuse of government power and advocates for limited government intervention. He believes that when the law is used to benefit one group at the expense of another, it undermines the very principles of justice and equality that it is meant to uphold.