montesquieu

Question 1

what kind of aristocracy was he born into?

Answer 1

French aristocracy

Question 2

what does he go to practice?

Answer 2

criminal law as a prosecutor

Question 3

what academy did he join?

Answer 3

bordeaux

Question 4

3 most influential books

Answer 4

Persian letters
Considerations
Spirit of laws

Question 5

when were Persian letters published

Answer 5

1721

Question 6

what is the premise of the Persian letters

Answer 6

2 wealthy Persian men travel to Paris and send letters back to their homeland observing the city from an outsiders pov

Question 7

Persian letters are critical of what?

Answer 7

Parisian society opulence - promoting view of factual relativism
French religious practices - promoting that religious belief is relative

Question 8

story of troglodytes

Answer 8

tribe ravaged by a plague
doctors comes to help but troglodytes don’t compensate him so doctor refuses to help when plague comes back

Question 9

what was Montesquieu interested in?

Answer 9

human behavior

Question 10

within human behavior what did he specifically want to figure out?

Answer 10

explanations as to why cultural differences exist and why different legal systems emerge

Question 11

why did the republic fall?

Answer 11

specific actions by specific actors
caesar lusted for power and gained enemies

Question 12

why does Montesquieu believe if caesar didn’t cause the republic to fall it would have been someone else?

Answer 12

there were structural issues

Question 13

why does Montesquieu want to unearth the fundamental principles that rule the social world?

Answer 13

he refuses to accept that things happen by chance

Question 14

greatest contribution of spirit of laws

Answer 14

endorsement of separation of powers

Question 15

main contribution of spirit of laws

Answer 15

classification of governments

Question 16

four classifications of government

Answer 16

monarchy
despotism
aristocratic republic
democratic republic

Question 17

nature

Answer 17

determined by what institutions the power of a government rests

Question 18

principle

Answer 18

the spiritual quality that animates laws of a state

Question 19

monarchy (france): Nature

Answer 19

concentrated power in a ruler/ruling family

Question 20

monarchy: principle

Answer 20

social hierarchies exist that do not form communities across class lines
checks exist on king
tacit approval is necessary

Question 21

despotism: nature

Answer 21

concentrated power in ruler/ruling family

Question 22

despotism: principle

Answer 22

unfettered concentration of power in hands of despot
no checks under ruler
will is the law
sustained on fear

Question 23

aristocratic republic (Ancient Rome): nature

Answer 23

political power is shared among small group

Question 24

aristocratic republic: principle

Answer 24

pursue virtue as it is envisioned by aristocratic class
set aside personal interests for public good

Question 25

democratic republic (modern western countries): nature

Answer 25

political power is spread throughout the state among citizens

Question 26

democratic republic: principle

Answer 26

pursue virtue as envisioned by general public

Question 27

what does he say the gov's "spirit" is?

Answer 27

vital force

Question 28

why is no law inherently good or bad?

Answer 28

because they are so closely related

Question 29

if you live in a republic why is education important?

Answer 29

fosters a love of republicanism and its laws - promoting stability

Question 30

why is his social scientific approach so important?

Answer 30

he focuses on the real rather than the ideal which gives his views more legitimacy

Question 31

what type of government does he endorse is the best?

Answer 31

republicanism

Question 32

what does Montesquieu believe about society?

Answer 32

it is capable of transforming human passion into virtue

Question 33

why does transforming passion into virtue become more complex in a monarchy?

Answer 33

corruption is more likely

Question 34

what does Montesquieu argue?

Answer 34

people are inherently self interested and prone to abuse power

Question 35

should power be checked?

Answer 35

yes

Question 36

why should power be separated?

Answer 36

avoid people abusing power

Question 37

what is the most workable solution for separation of powers?

Answer 37

having an executive, legislature and independent judiciary

Question 38

montesquieu is a humanist with a concern for what?

Answer 38

political stability

Question 39

what does he wants to discover?

Answer 39

preconditions necessary for liberty and stability

Question 40

why shouldn't we focus on idealized ancient forms of gov?

Answer 40

they don't exist

Question 41

what is most realistic for citizens to hope for?

Answer 41

stable gov that protects its citizens against abuse

Question 42

is negative or positive freedom greater?

Answer 42

negative

Question 43

views of negative freedom focus on

Answer 43

protections from individuals but he confronts protections against gov too

Question 44

2 central arguments w/ regard to how the gov can violate liberty of men

Answer 44

violating laws, which is abuse to citizens laws are unsatisfactory

Question 45

how to deal with situations of the gov violating liberty of men?

Answer 45

proper constitutions is the best safeguard against a gov violating its own laws separation of powers - independent judiciary