The Spirit of Laws (Great Books in Philosophy)

One of the most influential books of all time, this masterpiece of political philosophy was widely read throughout Europe, attracted an especially enthusiastic readership in England, and had a profound effect on the framers of the American Constitution. The scope of this masterful work is truly prodigious. Montesquieu explores the essentials of good government; compares and contrasts despotism, monarchy, and democracy; and discusses the factors that lead to corruption of governments. Among the many other topics considered are education of the citizenry, crime and punishment, abuse of power and of liberty, individual rights, taxation, slavery, the role of women, the influence of climate on the temper of a people and their form of government, commerce, religion, and a host of additional subjects. "The Spirit of Laws" is essential and genuinely enjoyable reading for anyone interested in the development of democracy. The Online Library of Liberty Collection......Page 1 About this title:......Page 2 Fair use statement:......Page 3 Table of Contents......Page 4 Of Commerce.......Page 13 Of the Spirit of Commerce.......Page 14 Of the Poverty of the People.......Page 15 Of Commerce in different Governments.......Page 16 Of Nations that have entered into an œconomical Commerce.......Page 18 Some Effects of an extensive Navigation.......Page 19 The Spirit of England, with respect to Commerce.......Page 20 In what manner the œconomical Commerce has been sometimes restrained.......Page 21 Of the Prohibition of Commerce.......Page 22 An Institution adapted to œconomical Commerce.......Page 23 The same Subject continued.......Page 24 Of the Freedom of Commerce.......Page 25 What it is that destroys this Liberty.......Page 26 The Laws of Commerce concerning the Confiscation of Merchandises.......Page 27 Of seizing the Persons of Merchants.......Page 28 An excellent Law.......Page 29 A Law of Rhodes.......Page 30 Of the Judges of Commerce.......Page 31 That a Prince ought not to engage himself in Commerce.......Page 32 The same Subject continued.......Page 33 Of the Commerce of the Nobility in a Monarchy.......Page 34 A singular Reflection.......Page 35 To what Nations Commerce is prejudicial.......Page 36 Some general Considerations.......Page 38 Of the People of Africa.......Page 39 That the wants of the People in the South are different from those of the North.......Page 40 The principal Difference between the Commerce of the Ancients and the Moderns.......Page 41 Other Differences.......Page 42 Of the Commerce of the Ancients.......Page 43 Of the Commerce of the Greeks.......Page 47 Of Alexander. His Conquest.......Page 49 Of the Commerce of the Grecian Kings after the Death of Alexander.......Page 51 Of the Circuit of Africa.......Page 55 Of Carthage and Marseilles.......Page 57 The Isle of Delos. Mithridates.......Page 60 Of the Genius of the Romans as to Maritime Affairs.......Page 61 Of the Genius of the Romans with Respect to Commerce.......Page 62 Of the Commerce of the Romans with the Barbarians.......Page 63 Of the Commerce of the Romans with Arabia, and the Indies.......Page 64 Of Commerce after the Destruction of the Western Empire.......Page 67 A particular Regulation.......Page 68 Of Commerce after the Decay of the Roman Power in the East.......Page 69 How Commerce broke through the Barbarism of Europe.......Page 70 The Discovery of two new Worlds, and in what Manner Europe is affected by it.......Page 72 Of the Riches which Spain drew from America.......Page 75 A Problem.......Page 78 The Reason of the Use of Money.......Page 79 Of the Nature of Money.......Page 80 Of ideal Money.......Page 82 Of the Quantity of Gold and Silver.......Page 83 The same Subject continued.......Page 84 The Reason why Interest was lowered one half after the Conquest of the Indies.......Page 85 How the Price of Things is fixed in the Variation of the Sign of Riches.......Page 86 The same Subject continued.......Page 87 Of the relative Scarcity of Gold and Silver.......Page 88 Of Exchange.......Page 89 Of the Proceedings of the Romans with respect to Money.......Page 95 The Circumstances in which the Romans changed the Value of their Specie.......Page 96 Proceedings with respect to Money in the Time of the Emperors.......Page 97 How the Exchange is a Constraint on despotic Power.......Page 98 The Practice of some Countries in Italy......Page 99 The Assistance a State may derive from Bankers.......Page 100 Of public Debts.......Page 101 Of the Payment of public Debts.......Page 102 Of lending upon Interest.......Page 103 Of maritime Usury.......Page 104 Of lending by Contract, and the State of Usury amongst the Romans.......Page 105 The same Subject continued.......Page 106 Of Men and Animals, with respect to Multiplication of their Species.......Page 110 Of Marriage.......Page 111 Of the Condition of Children.......Page 112 Of Families.......Page 113 Of the several Orders of lawful Wives.......Page 114 Of Bastards in different Governments.......Page 115 Of the Father’s Consent to Marriage.......Page 116 The same Subject continued.......Page 117 Of young Women.......Page 118 What it is that determines to Marriage.......Page 119 Of the Severity of Government.......Page 120 Of the Number of Males and Females in different Countries.......Page 121 Of Sea-port Towns.......Page 122 Of the Productions of the Earth which require a greater or less Number of Men.......Page 123 Of the Number of Inhabitants with relation to the Arts.......Page 124 The Concern of the Legislator in the Propagation of the Species.......Page 125 Of Greece, and the Number of its Inhabitants.......Page 126 Of the State and Number of People before the Romans.......Page 128 Of the Depopulation of the Globe.......Page 129 That the Romans were under a Necessity of making Laws, to encourage the Propagation of the Species.......Page 130 Of the Laws of the Romans relating to the Propagation of the Species.......Page 131 Of the Exposing of Children.......Page 137 Of the State of the World after the Destruction of the Romans.......Page 138 The Changes which happened in Europe, with regard to the Number of the Inhabitants.......Page 139 The same Subject continued.......Page 140 Consequences.......Page 141 Of the Law made in France to encourage the Propagation of the Species.......Page 142 By what Means we may remedy a Depopulation.......Page 143 Of Hospitals.......Page 144 Of Religion in general.......Page 146 A Paradox of Mr. Bayle’s.......Page 147 That a moderate Government is most agreeable to the Christian Religion, and a despotic Government to the Mahometan.......Page 148 Consequences from the Character of the Christian Religion, and that of the Mahometan.......Page 150 That the Catholic Religion is most agreeable to a Monarchy, and the Protestant to a Republic.......Page 151 Another of Mr. Bayle’s Paradoxes.......Page 152 Of the Laws of Perfection in Religion.......Page 153 Of the Connection between the moral Laws and those of Religion.......Page 154 Of the Essenes.......Page 155 Of the Sect of Stoics.......Page 156 Of Contemplation.......Page 157 Of Penances.......Page 158 Of inexpiable Crimes.......Page 159 In what manner Religion has an Influence on civil Laws.......Page 160 How false Religious are sometimes corrected by the Civil Laws.......Page 162 How the Laws of Religion correct the Inconveniencies of a political Constitution.......Page 163 The same Subject continued.......Page 164 How the Laws of Religion have the Effect of Civil Laws.......Page 165 That it is not so much the Truth or Falsity of a Doctrine which renders it useful or pernicious to Men in Civil Government, as the Use or Abuse of it.......Page 166 The same Subject continued.......Page 167 Of the Metempsychosis.......Page 168 That it is dangerous for Religion to inspire an Aversion for Things in themselves indifferent.......Page 169 Of Festivals.......Page 170 Of the local Laws of Religion.......Page 171 The Inconveniency of transplanting a Religion from one Country to another.......Page 172 The same Subject continued.......Page 173 Of religious Sentiments.......Page 174 Of the Motives of Attachment to different Religions.......Page 175 Of Temples.......Page 177 Of the Ministers of Religion.......Page 179 Of the Bounds which the Laws ought to prescribe to the Riches of the Clergy.......Page 180 Of Monasteries.......Page 182 Of the Luxury of Superstition.......Page 183 Of the Pontificate.......Page 184 Of Toleration in point of Religion.......Page 185 The same Subject continued.......Page 186 Of changing a Religion.......Page 187 Of penal Laws.......Page 188 A most humble Remonstrance to the Inquisitors of Spain and Portugal.......Page 189 Why the Christian Religion is so odious in Japan.......Page 191 Of the Propagation of Religion.......Page 192 Idea of this Book.......Page 193 Of Laws divine and human.......Page 194 Of Civil Laws contrary to the Law of Nature.......Page 195 The same Subject continued.......Page 196 Cases in which we may judge by the Principles of the Civil Law, in limiting the Principles of the Law of Nature.......Page 197 That the Order of Succession or Inheritance depends on the Principles of Political or Civil Law, and not on those of the Law of Nature.......Page 198 That we ought not to decide by the Precepts of Religion, what belongs only to the Law of Nature.......Page 200 That we ought not to regulate by the Principles of the Canon Law, Things which should be regulated by those of the Civil Law.......Page 201 That Things which ought to be regulated by the Principles of Civil Law, can seldom be regulated by those of Religion.......Page 202 In what Case we ought to follow the Civil Law which permits, and not the Law of Religion which forbids.......Page 204 That human Courts of Justice should not be regulated by the Maxims of those Tribunals which relate to the other Life.......Page 205 The same Subject continued.......Page 206 In what Cases, with regard to Marriage, we ought to follow the Laws of Religion; and in what Cases we should follow the Civil Laws.......Page 207 In what Instances Marriages between Relations should be regulated by the Laws of Nature; and in what Instances by the Civil Laws.......Page 209 That we should not regulate by the Principles of political Law, those Things which depend on the Principles of civil Law.......Page 212 That we ought not to decide by the Rules of the civil Law, when it is proper to decide by those of the political Law.......Page 214 The same Subject continued.......Page 216 That it is necessary to enquire, whether the Laws which seem contradictory, are of the same Class.......Page 217 That we should not decide those Things by the civil Law, which ought to be decided by domestic Laws.......Page 218 That we ought not to decide by the Principles of the civil Law, those Things which belong to the Law of Nations.......Page 219 That we should not decide by political Laws, Things which belong to the Law of Nations.......Page 220 The unhappy State of the Ynca Athualpa.......Page 221 That when, by some Circumstance, the political Law becomes destructive to the State, we ought to decide by such a political Law as will preserve it, which sometimes becomes a Law of Nations.......Page 222 That the Regulations of the Police are of a different Class from other civil Laws.......Page 223 That we should not follow the general Disposition of the civil Law, in Things which ought to be subject to particular Rules drawn from their own nature.......Page 224 CHAP. I.......Page 225 OF THE ORIGIN AND REVOLUTIONS OF THE CIVIL LAWS AMONG THE FRENCH.......Page 232 Different Character of the Laws of the several People of Germany.......Page 233 That the laws of the Barbarians were all personal.......Page 235 Capital Difference between the Salic Laws and those of the Visigoths and Burgundians.......Page 236 In what Manner the Roman Law came to be lost in the Country subject to the Franks, and preserved in that subject to the Goths and Burgundians.......Page 237 The same Subject continued.......Page 239 How the Roman Law kept its Ground in the Demesne of the Lombards.......Page 240 How the Roman Law came to be lost in Spain.......Page 241 A false Capitulary.......Page 242 In what Manner the Codes of Barbarian Laws, and the Capitularies came to be lost.......Page 243 The same Subject continued.......Page 244 Other Causes of the Disuse of the Codes of Barbarian Laws, as well as of the Roman Law, and of the Capitularies.......Page 245 Of local Customs. Revolution of the Laws of barbarous Nations, as well as of the Roman Law.......Page 246 Difference between the Salic Law, or that of the Salian Franks, and that of the Ripuarian Franks, and other barbarous Nations.......Page 248 Another Difference.......Page 249 A Reflection.......Page 250 Of the Ordeal, or Trial by boiling Water, established by the Salic Law.......Page 251 Particular Notions of our Ancestors.......Page 252 In what Manner the Custom of judicial Combats gained Ground.......Page 254 A new Reason of the Disuse of the Salic and Roman Laws, as also of the Capitularies.......Page 257 Origin of the Point of Honour.......Page 258 A new Reflection upon the Point of Honour among the Germans.......Page 260 Of the Manners relative to judicial Combats.......Page 261 Of the Code of Laws on judicial Combats.......Page 263 Rules established in the judicial Combat.......Page 264 Of the Bounds prescribed to the Custom of judicial Combats.......Page 266 Of the judiciary Combat between one of the Parties, and one of the Witnesses.......Page 268 Of the judicial Combat between one of the Parties, and one of the Lord’s Peers. Appeal of false Judgment.......Page 269 Of the Appeal of Default of Justice.......Page 273 Epoch of the Reign of St. Lewis.......Page 276 Observations on Appeals.......Page 278 The same Subject continued.......Page 279 The same Subject continued.......Page 280 The same Subject continued.......Page 281 In what Manner the Proceedings at Law became secret.......Page 282 Of the Costs.......Page 283 Of the public Prosecutor.......Page 284 In what Manner the Institutions of St. Lewis fell into Oblivion.......Page 286 The same Subject continued.......Page 288 The same Subject continued.......Page 290 In what Manner the Judiciary Forms were borrowed from the Decretals.......Page 291 Fiux and Reflux of the ecclesiastic and temporal Jurisdiction.......Page 292 The Revival of the Roman Law, and the Result thereof. Change in the Tribunals.......Page 293 The same subject continued.......Page 295 Of the Proof by Witnesses.......Page 296 Of the Customs of France.......Page 297 Of the Spirit of a Legislator.......Page 299 The same Subject continued.......Page 300 That the Laws which seem to deviate from the Views of the Legislator, are frequently agreeable to them.......Page 301 Of the Laws contrary to the Views of the Legislator.......Page 302 The same Subject continued.......Page 303 That Laws which appear the same, have not always the same Effect.......Page 304 The same Subject continued. Necessity of composing Laws in a proper Manner.......Page 305 That Laws which appear the same, were not always made through the same Motive.......Page 306 That the Greek and Roman Laws punished Suicide, but not through the same Motive.......Page 307 That Laws which seem contrary, proceed sometimes from the same Spirit.......Page 308 How we are to judge of the Difference of Laws.......Page 309 That Laws which appear the same, are sometimes really different.......Page 310 That we must not separate Laws from the End for which they were made. Of the Roman Laws on Theft.......Page 311 That we must not separate the Laws from the Circumstances in which they were made.......Page 313 That sometimes it is proper the Law should amend itself.......Page 314 Things to be observed in the composing of Laws.......Page 315 A bad Method of giving Laws.......Page 318 Of the Ideas of Uniformity.......Page 319 Of Legislators.......Page 320 Of feudal Laws.......Page 321 Of the Source of feudal Laws.......Page 322 The Origin of Vassalage.......Page 323 The same Subject continued.......Page 324 Of the Conquests of the Franks.......Page 325 Of the Goths, Burgundians, and Franks.......Page 326 Different Ways of dividing the Land.......Page 327 The same Subject continued.......Page 328 A just application of the Law of the Burgundians and of that of the Visigoths in relation to the division of Lands.......Page 329 Of Servitudes.......Page 330 The same Subject continued.......Page 331 That the lands belonging to the division of the Barbarians paid no taxes.......Page 334 Of Taxes paid by the Romans and Gauls, in the monarchy of the Franks.......Page 336 Of what they called Census.......Page 338 That what they called census was raised only on the bondmen, and not on the freemen.......Page 339 Of the feudal Lords or Vassals.......Page 341 Of the Military Service of Freemen.......Page 342 Of the double Service.......Page 344 Of Compositions among the barbarous Nations.......Page 346 Of what was afterwards called the Jurisdiction of the Lords.......Page 349 Of the territorial Jurisdiction of the Churches.......Page 352 That the Jurisdictions were established before the End of the second Race.......Page 354 General Idea of the Abbé Du Bos’s Book on the Establishment of the French Monarchy in Gaul.......Page 356 The same Subject continued. Reflection on the main Part of the System.......Page 357 Of the French Nobility.......Page 360 Changes in the offices and in the fiefs. Of the mayors of the palace.......Page 364 How the civil Government was reformed.......Page 367 Authority of the Mayors of the Palace.......Page 369 Of the Genius of the Nation in regard to the Mayors.......Page 371 In what Manner the Mayors obtained the Command of the Armies.......Page 372 Second Epocha of the Humiliation of our Kings of the first Race.......Page 373 Of the great Offices and Fiefs under the Mayors of the Palace.......Page 374 In what Manner the allodial Estates were changed into Fiefs.......Page 375 How the Church-lands were converted into Fiefs.......Page 377 Riches of the Clergy.......Page 378 State of Europe at the Time of Charles Martel.......Page 379 Establishment of the Tithes.......Page 381 Of the Election of Bishops and Abbots.......Page 383 Of the Fiefs of Charles Martel.......Page 384 The same Subject continued.......Page 385 Confusion of the Royalty and Mayoralty. The second Race.......Page 386 A particular Circumstance in the Election of the Kings of the second Race.......Page 388 Charlemaign.......Page 389 The same Subject continued.......Page 390 Lewis the Debonnaire.......Page 391 The same Subject continued.......Page 393 The same Subject continued.......Page 394 The same Subject continued.......Page 395 That the Freemen were rendered capable of holding Fiefs.......Page 397 THE PRINCIPAL CAUSE OF THE HUMILIATION OF THE SECOND RACE. Changes in the Allodia.......Page 398 Changes in the Fiefs.......Page 400 Another Change which happened in the Fiefs.......Page 401 Changes which happened in the great Offices, and in the Fiefs.......Page 402 Of the Nature of the Fiefs after the Reign of Charles the Bald.......Page 404 The same Subject continued.......Page 405 In what Manner the Empire was transferred from the Family of Charlemaign.......Page 407 In what Manner the Crown of France was transferred to the House of Hugh Capet.......Page 408 Some Consequences of the perpetuity of Fiefs.......Page 409 The same subject continued.......Page 412 Eighteenth-century French Philosopher Charles-louis De Secondat Explores The Essential Components Of Good Government. Montesquieu's Preface -- Bk. I. Of Laws In General -- Bk. Ii. Of Laws Directly Derived From The Nature Of Government -- Bk. Iii. Of The Principles Of The Three Kinds Of Government -- Bk. Iv. That The Laws Of Education Ought To Be In Relation To The Principles Of Government -- Bk. V. That The Law Given By The Legislator Ought To Be In Relation To The Principle Of Government -- Bk. Vi. Consequences Of The Principles Of Different Governments With Respect To The Simplicity Of Civil And Criminal Laws, The Form Of Judgments, And The Inflicting Of Punishments -- Bk. Vii. Consequences Of The Different Principles Of The Three Governments With Respect To Sumptuary Laws, Luxury, And The Condition Of Women -- Bk. Viii. Of The Corruption Of The Principles Of The Three Governments -- Bk. Ix. Of Laws In The Relation They Bear To A Defensive Force -- Bk. X. Of Laws In The Relation They Bear To Offensive Force -- Bk. Xi. Of The Laws Which Establish Political Liberty With Regard To The Constitution -- Bk. Xii. Of The Laws That Form Political Liberty, In Relation To The Subject -- Bk. Xiii. Of The Relation Which The Levying Of Taxes And The Greatness Of The Public Revenues Bear To Liberty -- Bk. Xiv. Of Laws In Relation To The Nature Of The Climate -- Bk. Xv. In What Manner The Laws Of Civil Slavery Relate To The Nature Of The Climate -- Bk. Xvi. How The Laws Of Domestic Slavery Bear A Relation To The Nature Of The Climate -- Bk. Xvii. How The Laws Of Political Servitude Bear A Relation To The Nature Of The Climate -- Bk. Xviii. Of Laws In The Relation They Bear To The Nature Of The Soil -- Bk. Xix. Of Laws In Relation To The Principles Which Form The Spirit, The Morals, And Customs Of A Nation -- Bk. Xx. Of Laws In Relation To Commerce Considered In Its Nature And Distinctions -- Bk. Xxi. Of Laws In Relation To Commerce, Considered In The Revolutions It Has Met With In The World -- Bk. Xxii. Of Laws In Relation To The Use Of Money -- Bk. Xxiii. Of Laws In The Relation They Bear To The Number Of Inhabitants -- Bk. Xxiv. Of Laws In Relation To Religion Considered In Itself, And In Its Doctrines -- Bk. Xxv. Of Laws In Relation To The Establishment Of Religion And Its External Polity -- Bk. Xxvi. Of Laws In Relation To The Order Of Things Which They Determine -- Bk. Xxvii. Of The Origin And Revolutions Of The Roman Laws On Successions -- Bk. Xxviii. Of The Origin And Revolution Of The Civil Laws Among The French -- Bk. Xxix. Of The Manner Of Composing Laws -- Bk. Xxx. Theory Of The Feudal Laws Among The Franks In The Relation They Bear To The Establishment Of The Monarchy -- Bk. Xxxi. Theory Of The Feudal Laws Among The Franks, In The Relation They Bear To The Revolutions Of Their Monarchy. Charles De Secondat, Baron De Montesquieu. This Edition Originally Published: New York : Colonial Press, C1900. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "In this wide ranging treatise on the nature of law, the famous French political philosopher Charles Louis de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu (1689 1755) explores the essentials of good government; compares and contrasts despotism, monarchy, and democracy; and discusses the factors that lead to the corruption of governments. Among the many topics considered are education of the citizenry, crime and punishment, abuse of power and of liberty, individual rights, taxation, slavery, the role of women, commerce, religion, and a host of additional subjects. One of the most influential books of all time, this masterpiece of political philosophy was widely read throughout Europe, attracted an especially enthusiastic readership in England, and had a profound effect on the framers of the American Constitution, who emulated Montesquieu by insisting upon a balance of power among branches of government executive, legislative, and judiciary the now famous 'separation of powers'." Talking about political philosophy, this book explores the essentials of good government; compares and contrasts despotism, monarchy, and democracy; and discusses the factors that lead to corruption of governments. It also considers many other topics such as education of the citizenry, crime and punishment, and abuse of power and of liberty. Nouv. éd., revue sur les meilleurs textes, suivie De la défense de l'esprit des lois par l'autheur