Question

short notes on Charles Montesquieu

Answer 1

Born

18 January 1689

Château de la Brède, La Brède, Aquitaine, France

Died

10 February 1755 (aged 66)

Paris, France

Era

18th-century philosophy

Region

Western philosophy

School

Enlightenment

Classical liberalism

Main interests

Political philosophy

Notable ideas

Separation of state powers: executive, legislative, judicial; classification of systems of government based on their principles

Influences

Aristotle, Cicero, Thomas Hobbes, Polybius, René Descartes, Nicolas Malebranche, Jean Bodin, John Locke, 18th-century English constitution

Influenced

David Hume, Thomas Paine, Rousseau, Edmund Burke, United States Constitution and political system, G.W.F Hegel, Alexis de Tocqueville, Émile Durkheim, Hannah Arendt, Adam Ferguson, Jean de Sismondi, Prosper de Barante[1]

He is famous for his articulation of the theory of separation of powers, which is implemented in many constitutions throughout the world. He is also known for doing more than any other author to secure the place of the word "despotism" in the political lexicon.[3] His anonymously published The Spirit of the Laws in 1748, which was received well in both Great Britain and the American colonies, influenced the Founding Fathers in drafting the United States Constitution.

Answer 2

Charles Montesquieu's full title was Baron de la Brede et de Montesquieu. He was a jurist, social philosopher and satirist and became the first great French man associated with the Enlightenment. He was born near Bordeaux. Educated at Bordeaux, he became an advocate, but turned to scientific research and literary work. He settled in Paris (1726), then spent some years travelling and studying political and social institutions. Montesquieu's best-known work is 'De l'esprit des lois' (The Spirit of Laws). He felt that tyranny resulted when all powers were controlled by one man. He believed political freedom could be created by separating political powers into different branches, and he developed the political theory of 'checks and balances' that became an important part of the American Constitution.