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Montesquieu 1689-1755. 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
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Montesquieu 1689-1755 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 • 1729-31 visit to England • 1734 Consideration sur les causes de la grandeur et de la decadence des Romains • 1748 De l’Esprit des Lois
Montesquieu 1689-1755 I Life II Political Thought III Critical Evaluation
II Political Thought • Forms of Government - republican / monarchic / despotic (II.1) - democracy and choice (II.2) - intermediate powers and law (II.4) - despotism and religion (II.4) • Moderate 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) • Federalism - 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 1689-1755 I Life II Political Thought III Critical Evaluation
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