Montesquieu I Life II Political Thought III Critical Evaluation

I Life Age of Absolutism Born into nobility Charles-Louis de Secondat, Baron de La Brede, Baron de Montesquieu 1721 Lettres Persanes Judge, President of Parliament, Member of the Academie Francaise visit to England 1734 Consideration sur les causes de la grandeur et de la decadence des Romains 1748 De l’Esprit des Lois

Montesquieu I Life II Political Thought III Critical Evaluation

II Political Thought 1Forms of Government - republican / monarchic / despotic (II.1) - democracy and choice (II.2) - intermediate powers and law (II.4) - despotism and religion (II.4) 2Moderate Republicanism - power should be a check to power (XI.4) - legislative, executive, judiciary (XI.6) - class justice (XI.6) - separate chambers for people and nobility (p. 155) (XI.6) - crime prevention (VI.9) 3Federalism - local interest (p. 154) (XI.6) - character of large and small states (p. 122) (VIII.19-20) - the federal principle (p. 126) (IX.1)

Montesquieu I Life II Political Thought III Critical Evaluation

social conservatism political organization must match social complexity the spirit of laws is fulfilled when they provide social balance and mutual control republicanism federalism