The Spirit of Laws: A Compendium of the First English Edition

Charles de Secondat Montesquieu, baron de, Montesquieu

University of California Press, Jun 1, 1978 - Philosophy - 516 pages

Montesquieu's The Spirit of Laws is 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 of The Spirit of Laws, together with the first English translation of the posthumously published treatise containing the physiological theory underlying Montesquieu's theory of climate.

Contents

• The Life and Times of Montesquieu: 3
• The Methodology of The Spirit of Laws: 18
• Forms of Government: 28
• Conclusion: 82
• PREFACE: 91
• Of Laws Directly Derived from: 106
• Of the Principles of the Three: 116
• That the Laws of Education Ought to: 126
• Consequences of the Principles of Different: 152
• Consequences of the Different Principles: 163
• Part: 181
• Offensive Force: 189
• Of the Laws Which Establish Political: 196
• Of the Laws That Form Political Liberty: 215
• Of the Relation Which the Levying: 229
• Part Three: 241
• In What Manner the Laws of Civil Slavery: 257
• How the Laws of Domestic Slavery Bear: 266
• How the Laws of Political Servitude Bear: 275
• Of Laws in Relation to the Principles: 287
• Part Four: 299
• Of Laws in Relation to Religion: 320
• Of Laws in Relation to the Establishment: 339
• Of Laws in Relation to the Order of Things: 354
• Of the Manner of Composing Laws: 372
• Editors Notes to The Spirit of Laws: 379
• An Essay on Causes Affecting: 415
• Physical Causes Affecting Minds and Characters 417: 434
• Materials: 451
• Appendices: 467
• Explanatory Note Appended to the Edition: 478

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Spirit of Laws: A Compendium of the First English Edition
• Authors: Charles de Secondat Montesquieu, baron de, Montesquieu
• Edition: illustrated
• Publisher: University of California Press, 1978
• ISBN: 0520034554, 9780520034556
• Length: 516 pages
• Subjects: Philosophy / Political; Political Science / General