The Spirit of Laws - Softcover

Baron De Montesquieu, Charles-Louis De S

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1602066485 ISBN 13: 9781602066489

Publisher: Cosimo Classics, 2007

Synopsis

Baron de Montesquieu, Charles-Louis de S

About this title

From the Back Cover:

The Spirit of Laws, first published in 1750, is a detailed treatise on the structures and theory of government by French political philosopher CHARLES, BARON DE MONTESQUIEU (1689-1755), whose satirical Persian Letters, which made fun of life in Paris under Louis XIV, had delighted France in the 1720s. Spirit, by contrast, scandalized the French--it was even banned by the Roman Catholic Church.

The fact that it is hardly dated, in many ways, to modern readers is a testament, perhaps, to how revolutionary it must have seemed 250 years ago: among its comparisons of different forms of governments such as monarchies, despotic regimes, and republics is the now-famous section on Montesquieu's concept of the separation of powers, dividing the ruling body into legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

Also included is the author's thinking on the influence of climate on politics and culture, which seems startlingly prescient as global warming begins to have a political impact. A powerful influence on the framers of the U.S. Constitution, this classic work will appeal to history buffs and anyone interested in the roots of modern political theory and government.

About this edition

• Publisher: Cosimo Classics
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 1602066485
• ISBN 13: 9781602066489
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 420