Montesquieu | Alan Gilbert (essay date 1994)
Alan Gilbert (essay date 1994)
SOURCE: Gilbert, Alan. “‘Internal Restlessness’: Individuality, and Community in Montesquieu,” Political Theory 22, 1 (1994): 45-70.
[In this essay, Gilbert draws out the ethical bases of Montesquieu's philosophy, linking his sense of moral justice to his vision of a liberal, interdependent society. Gilbert focuses on Montesquieu's use of the English model to flesh out his interpretation of Montesquieu's ideal commercial state.]
1. TWO INTERPRETATIONS OF MONTESQUIEU
In Spirit of the Laws, Montesquieu began his argument with a striking contrast of the virtue-based politics of ancient small warrior republics and the honor-based politics of large eighteenth-century monarchies. He invoked a novel, general social theory of the nature, principle and complex spirit of such regimes (the latter knits together climate, geography, customs [moeurs], manners [manières], religion,...
[The entire page is 11209 words long]
Navigate
