Montesquieu’s Political Economy (Recovering Political Philosophy)

"This book aims to provides an introductory survey of Montesquieu's economic ideas and a fresh examination of the longstanding controversy over the meaning and purpose of Montesquieu's The Spirit of the Laws. No one doubts that Montesquieu helped to formulate the core liberal ideals at the heart of the development of liberal republicanism on both the European and American continents. Yet, questions remain about Montesquieu's political intentions. In particular, the view of Montesquieu as a conscious proponent of commercial modernity has come under increasing scrutiny. While not ignoring recent scholarly challenges, Bibby moves the debate forward by uncovering the many hidden connections between commerce, liberty, and religion in The Spirit of the Laws. A failure to make these connections, Bibby argues, has led to significant interpretative errors. This book attempts to eliminate one source of the confusion which continues to cloud Montesquieu's political arguments in obscurity. "-- "This book contributes to the recovery of political philosophy by analyzing Montesquieu's economic thought. Engaging, eclectic, and inventive, this fresh examination clarifies the longstanding controversy over the purpose and meaning of Montesquieu's The Spirit of the Laws"-- "This book aims to provides an introductory survey of Montesquieu's economic ideas and a fresh examination of the longstanding controversy over the meaning and purpose of Montesquieu's The Spirit of the Laws. No one doubts that Montesquieu helped to formulate the core liberal ideals at the heart of the development of liberal republicanism on both the European and American continents. Yet, questions remain about Montesquieu's political intentions. In particular, the view of Montesquieu as a conscious proponent of commercial modernity has come under increasing scrutiny. While not ignoring recent scholarly challenges, Bibby moves the debate forward by uncovering the many hidden connections between commerce, liberty, and religion in The Spirit of the Laws. A failure to make these connections, Bibby argues, has led to significant interpretative errors. This book attempts to eliminate one source of the confusion which continues to cloud Montesquieu's political arguments in obscurity. "-- Provided by publisher This book provides an introductory survey of Montesquieu's economic ideas and a fresh examination of the longstanding controversy over the meaning and purpose of Montesquieu's The Spirit of the Laws. No one doubts that Montesquieu helped to formulate the core liberal ideals at the heart of the development of liberal republican traditions on both the European and American continents. Yet, questions remain about Montesquieu's political intentions. In particular, the view of Montesquieu as a conscious proponent of commercial modernity has come under increasing scrutiny. While not ignoring recent scholarly challenges, Bibby moves the debate forward by uncovering the many hidden connections between commerce, liberty, and religion in The Spirit of the Laws. A failure to make these connections, Bibby argues, has led to significant interpretative errors. This book attempts to eliminate one source of the confusion which continues to cloud Montesquieu's political philosophy inobscurity. Front Matter....Pages i-xiii Introduction....Pages 1-14 Montesquieu Économiste....Pages 15-32 Commerce in The Spirit of the Laws....Pages 33-54 Commerce, Honor, and Monarchy....Pages 55-71 The Maligned Merchant and the New History of Commerce....Pages 73-87 Commerce and the Rhetoric of Toleration....Pages 89-112 The Problem of Property in The Spirit of the Laws....Pages 113-145 Conclusion....Pages 147-151 Back Matter....Pages 153-229 "This book contributes to the recovery of political philosophy by analyzing Montesquieu's economic thought. Engaging, eclectic, and inventive, this fresh examination clarifies the longstanding controversy over the purpose and meaning of Montesquieu's The Spirit of the Laws"-- Provided by publisher