When1: 1721
When2: 1748
Who: Montesquieu or Charles de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu [Montesquieu, Charles de Secondat, Baron de]
What: philosopher/historian
Where: Paris, France
works\ Persian Letters [1721: satire on European society]; Reflections on the Causes of the Grandeur and Decline of the Romans [1734: philosophy of history]; Spirit of Laws [1748: comparative government and economic and geographic origins of laws]
Detail: He lived 1689 to 1755, wrote histories, and began political science.
Law
Laws must suit environment. The standard of law is justice.
Politics
Personal liberty is good. There are three government types. Kings of Europe illustrate monarchy. Rulers of Orient illustrate despotism. Republics can be either democratic or aristocratic. Democratic republics depend on virtue and public spirit. Aristocratic republics depend on moderation. Monarchy depends on honor. Despotism depends on fear. Virtue is the ideal of democracy. Moderation is the ideal of aristocracy. Honor is the ideal of monarchy. Fear is the ideal of despotism. States need constitutions. Separating executive, legislative, and judicial government branches is good.
Social Sciences>Philosophy>History>Ethics
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Date Modified: 2022.0224