Esprit des lois by baron de Charles de Secondat Montesquieu

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About this eBook

Author Montesquieu, Charles de Secondat, baron de, 1689-1755
Editor Janet, Paul, 1823-1899
Title Esprit des lois
livres I à V, précédés d'une introduction de l'éditeur
Note Wikipedia page about this book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Spirit_of_Law
Note Reading ease score: 65.9 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read.
Credits Produced by Hélène de Mink, Laurent Vogel, Juliet Sutherland
and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at
https://www.pgdp.net
Summary "Esprit des lois" by Baron de Charles de Secondat Montesquieu is a seminal work of political philosophy written in the mid-18th century. This essay examines the principles that underpin various forms of governance, contrasting monarchies, republics, and despotisms while emphasizing the importance of law, morality, and societal structures. Montesquieu's analysis leads to profound observations about the nature of power, liberty, and the role of laws in shaping human societies. At the start of "Esprit des lois," the introduction prepares the reader for the exploration of Montesquieu's political thought, which evolved from his earlier works like the "Lettres persanes." The opening discusses the influence of historical precedents on his later ideas, addressing the necessity of virtue in democracies, the honor in monarchies, and the dangers of despotism. Montesquieu critiques existing political structures, illustrating how different cultures and forms of government cultivate distinct moral principles and social behaviors. He posits that the balance and dynamics of power ultimately dictate the health and longevity of nations, setting the stage for the rigorous analysis found in the subsequent chapters. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Language French
LoC Class JC: Political science: Political theory
Subject Political science
Subject Law -- Philosophy
Subject State, The
Subject Jurisprudence
Category Text
EBook-No. 27573
Release Date
Most Recently Updated Jan 4, 2021
Copyright Status Public domain in the USA.
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