Montesquieu

Introducing Charles-Louis de Secondat, Baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu, the pioneering force behind the Enlightenment in France.

Baron de Montesquieu (1689–1755)

Born a nobleman, Montesquieu received his degree of Law at the age of nineteen. He is considered as the most leading man of letters in France for a generation. Though a nobleman, he opposed absolute monarchism.

Credited with initiating the movement called the Enlightenment.

Montesquieu is known for his three major works:

  1. The Spirit of Laws: The result of a lifetime’s research and labour, this is considered as the greatest intellectual production of the age. It has left its mark on the American Constitution.

Main Ideas in the book:

a.     separation of power: legislature should make laws, and not administer them; executive should administer laws, and not make them; judiciary should only interpret laws.

b.     Eulogy to reason: “reason is the most perfect, the most noble, the most beautiful of all our faculties.”

c.     Condemnation of religious bigotry

d.     Exploration of the role of physical forces in the evolution of customs and laws

  1. Lettres Persanes (Persian Letters): The work is in the form of letters by two imaginary Persian travelers on the way to France. The book hints of the direction of the Enlightenment.

Main Ideas in the book:

a.     laughs at the oddities and weaknesses of the contemporary society.

b.     exposes the deep religious and political issues.

c.     Opposes (a.) absolute monarchism, (b.) corruption of the court, (c.) idleness of the nobles, (d.) maladministration of state finances, and (e.) religion.

  1. Considerations of the Causes of the Decline of the Roman Empire: A treatment of the history of Rome

Main Ideas in the book:

a.     General laws determine historical processes: There is a causal interconnection of details and minor episodes in history.

b.     denunciation of absolute monarchy: he considers the transformation of Rome from a Republic to an Empire as an important cause for undermining our civilization.

Montesquieu’s ideas about laws:

 (Refer the ideas of  Locke and Newton)

·       Physical forces have a role in the evolution of customs and laws.

·       Laws are the end-result of the interaction of various factors including the climate, the soil, the physiology and economy and manners of the people.

·       Laws are not providential creations.

·       Those who administer laws need to be self restrained.

Impact upon the period: Opposed monarchism. Respect for reason. Challenges religion, corruption and maladministration.

On the scale between reason and emotion, Montesquieu paid much emphasis to reason: “Reason is the most perfect, the most noble, the most beautiful of all our faculties”.

 Prepared by Jacob Eapen Kunnath

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