The Spirit of Laws; On the Origin of Inequality; On Political Economy; The Social Contract
Overview
The makers of Encyclopaedia Britannica bring you one of the Great Books of the Western World. This text captures major ideas, stories, and discoveries that helped shape Western culture.
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“Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains. One thinks himself the master of others, and still remains a greater slave than they.” (Page 387)
“Since no man has a natural authority over his fellow, and force creates no right, we must conclude that conventions form the basis of all legitimate authority among men.” (Page 389)
“I conceive that there are two kinds of inequality among the human species; one, which I call natural or physical, because it is established by nature, and consists in a difference of age, health, bodily strength, and the qualities of the mind or of the soul: and another, which may be called moral or political inequality, because it depends on a kind of convention, and is established, or at least authorised by the consent of men. This latter consists of the different privileges, which some men enjoy to the prejudice of others; such as that of being more rich, more honoured, more powerful or even in a position to exact obedience.” (Page 333)
“They should be in relation to the climate of each country, to the quality of its soil, to its situation and extent, to the principal occupation of the natives, whether husbandmen, huntsmen, or shepherds: they should have relation to the degree of liberty which the constitution will bear; to the religion of the inhabitants, to their inclinations, riches, numbers, commerce, manners, and customs. In fine, they have relations to each other, as also to their origin, to the intent of the legislator, and to the order of things on which they are established; in all of which different lights they ought to be considered.” (Page 3)
- Title: The Spirit of Laws; On the Origin of Inequality; On Political Economy; The Social Contract
- Authors: Baron de Montesquieu, Jean Jacques Rousseau
- Edition: Second Edition
- Series: Great Books of the Western World
- Volume: 35
- Publishers: Encyclopedia Britannica, Robert P. Gwinn
- Print Publication Date: 1990
- Logos Release Date: 2016
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: Political science; State, the; Law › Philosophy; Jurisprudence; Equality; Social contract; Economics; Law (Philosophical concept)
- ISBNs: 0852295316, 9780852295311
- Resource ID: LLS:GBWW35
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T00:11:30Z