Joseph von Sonnenfels (1732-1817) is widely regarded as the "Herald of the Austrian Enlightenment." His three-volume work "Principles of Police, Action, and Finance," written in 1765, shaped generations of jurists in the spirit of Austrian national education and the Josephinian ethos. The modernized edition of the first and most famous volume from the 5th edition of 1787, now available, was the authoritative textbook and reading material for law students at Austrian universities until 1845, providing deep insights into the culture and life of the Habsburg monarchy just before the outbreak of the French Revolution. The text reflects the ideas of the Enlightenment, discusses the implementation of Enlightenment reforms in practice, and contains the essence of Sonnenfels' teachings: he advocates for state regulation.