This French thinker, known as Montesquieu, was a pivotal figure of the Enlightenment. He is renowned for his articulation of the theory of the separation of powers, a concept that profoundly shaped modern governmental structures and is now implemented in constitutions worldwide. His insightful commentary also played a significant role in popularizing terms like "feudalism" and "Byzantine Empire." Montesquieu's rigorous analysis of social and political systems left an indelible mark on the discourse of governance and society.
Offering a glimpse into the intellectual journey of Montesquieu, this collection features his notebooks filled with reflections on diverse subjects such as morality, religion, and constitutional liberty. Spanning from his early work "Persian Letters" to his death, these writings include drafts of published pieces and outlines of unfinished projects. They reveal the evolution of his thought and provide valuable insights into the foundations of modern political and social theory.
Presents the work of Montesquieu, the philosopher, social critic, political theorist, and literary stylist. This title is intended for the students of the Enlightenment and of modern constitutional thought.
"Republication of David Lowenthal's elegant translation of Montesquieu's neglected study of the Romans--an indispensable source for understanding the philosopher's treatment of Rome in The Spirit of the Laws--makes the book available to a new generation of English-language readers. Lowenthal's perceptive introduction and useful notes also deserve the attention of those who can read Montesquieu in the original French." --James W. Muller, University of Alaska, Anchorage
Two Persian travellers arrive in Paris and report on the European society of the Enlightenment in their letters home. With biting satire they compare East and West, while unsettling news from the harem provides a suspenseful plot of jealousy and passion. This is the first English translation based on the original text.
This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.
" Dans cet important ouvrage, Monsieur de Montesquieu, sans s'appesantir, à l'exemple de ceux qui l'ont précédé, sur des discussions métaphysiques relatives à l'homme supposé dans un état d'abstraction ; sans se borner, comme d'autres, à considérer certains peuples dans quelques relations ou circonstances particulières, envisage les habitants de l'univers dans l'état réel où ils sont, et dans tous les rapports qu'ils peuvent avoir entre eux. La plupart des autres écrivains en ce genre sont presque toujours, ou de simples moralistes, ou de simples jurisconsultes, ou même quelquefois de simples théologiens. Pour lui, l'homme de tous les pays et de toutes les nations, il s'occupe moins de ce que le devoir exige de nous, que des moyens par lesquels on peut nous obliger de le remplir ; de la perfection métaphysique des lois, que de celle dont la nature humaine les rend susceptibles ; des lois qu'on a faites, que de celles qu'on a dû faire ; des lois d'un peuple particulier, que de celles de tous les peuples. " d'Alembert.
