The Spirit of Laws

by Montesquieu, Charles de Secondat

• ISBN13: 9780520034556
• ISBN10: 0520034554
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1978-06-01
• Publisher: Univ of California Pr

Summary

Montesquieu'sThe Spirit of Lawsis an enduring classic of social and political theory deserving a fresh reading every generation. The modern reader, however, is likely to find a work that ran to over a thousand pages in its two-volume first edition a bit overwhelming. Presented here, therefore, is the first English-language compendium ofThe Spirit of Laws,together with the first English translation of the posthumously published treatise containing the physiological theory underlying Montesquieu's theory of climate.

Table of Contents

Preface	xiii
Note on the Text	xix
Chronological Table of Major Events in Montesquieu's Life	xxii
Abbreviations	xxx
Introduction
The Life and Times of Montesquieu
Early Years	3	(2)
Life in the Provinces	5	(1)
Scientific Interests	6	(2)
Early Reputation and Writings	8	(2)
Travels in Europe	10	(2)
Roman History	12	(1)
L'Esprit des lois	13	(5)
The Methodology of The Spirit of Laws
Quest for Order	18	(5)
The Concept of the General Spirit	23	(7)
Conservatism-Liberalism	30	(4)
Relativism	34	(6)
Rationalism-Empiricism	40	(4)
Climate	44	(7)
Religion	51	(5)
Forms of Government
Introductory	56	(4)
Democracy	60	(6)
Monarchy	66	(6)
Despotism	72	(3)
The English Constitution	75	(7)
Conclusion	82	(14)
The Spirit of Laws
Preface	91	(5)
Part One
Of Laws in General	96	(10)
Of Laws Directly Derived from the Nature of Government	106	(10)
Of the Principles of the Three Kinds of Government	116	(10)
That the Laws of Education Ought to Be in Relation to the Principles of Government	126	(5)
That the Laws Given by the Legislator Ought to Be in Relation to the Principles of Government	131	(21)
Consequences of the Principles of Different Governments with Respect to the Simplicity of Civil and Criminal Laws, the Form of Judgments, and the Inflicting of Punishments	152	(11)
Consequences of the Different Principles of the Three Governments with Respect to Sumptuary Laws, Luxury, and the Condition of Women	163	(7)
Of the Corruption of the Principles of the Three Governments	170	(12)
Part Two
Of Laws in the Relation They Bear to a Defensive Force	182	(7)
Of Laws in the Relation They Bear to Offensive Force	189	(7)
Of the Laws Which Establish Political Liberty, with Regard to the Constitution	196	(19)
Of the Laws That Form Political Liberty, in Relation to the Subject	215	(14)
Of the Relation Which the Levying of Taxes and the Greatness of the Public Revenues Bear to Liberty	229	(13)
Part Three
Of Laws in Relation to the Nature of the Climate	242	(15)
In What Manner the Laws of Civil Slavery Relate to the Nature of the Climate	257	(9)
How the Laws of Domestic Slavery Bear a Relation to the Nature of the Climate	266	(9)
How the Laws of Political Servitude Bear a Relation to the Nature of the Climate	275	(5)
Of Laws in the Relation They Bear to the Nature of the Soil	280	(7)
Of Laws in Relation to the Principles Which Form the General Spirit, the Morals, and Customs of a Nation	287	(13)
Part Four
Laws in the Relation They Bear to the Number of Inhabitants	300	(20)
Part Five
Of Laws in Relation to Religion Considered in Itself, and in Its Doctrines	320	(19)
Of Laws in Relation to the Establishment of Religion and Its External Polity	339	(15)
Of Laws in Relation to the Order of Things Which They Determine	354	(18)
Part Six
Of the Manner of Composing Laws	372
Editor's Notes to The Spirit of Laws	379
An Essay on Causes Affecting Minds and Characters
Part One
Physical Causes Affecting Minds and Characters	417
Part Two
Moral Causes Affecting Minds and Characters	434
Materials	451
Editor's Notes to An Essay on Causes	455
Appendices
Appendix I Jansenist and Jesuit Censures of The Spirit of Laws	467
Appendix II Travel Literature	469
Appendix III The Manuscript of The Spirit of Laws	472
Appendix IV Explanatory Note Appended to the Edition of 1757	478
Appendix V A Note on Nugent's Translation of the Title of Montesquieu's Work	480