Combining Texts
Ideas for
'Reply to Fourth Objections', 'Proslogion' and 'The Spirit of the Laws (rev. 1757)'
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33 ideas
24. Political Theory / A. Basis of a State / 1. A People / b. The natural life
19961
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Primitive people would be too vulnerable and timid to attack anyone, so peace would reign [Montesquieu]
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19962
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Men do not desire to subjugate one another; domination is a complex and advanced idea [Montesquieu]
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24. Political Theory / A. Basis of a State / 1. A People / c. A unified people
19963
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People are drawn into society by needs, shared fears, pleasure, and knowledge [Montesquieu]
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20008
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People are guided by a multitude of influences, from which the spirit of a nation emerges [Montesquieu]
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24. Political Theory / A. Basis of a State / 2. Population / b. State population
19993
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In small republics citizens identify with the public good, and abuses are fewer [Montesquieu]
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19992
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In a large republic there is too much wealth for individuals to manage it [Montesquieu]
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24. Political Theory / A. Basis of a State / 4. Original Position / b. Veil of ignorance
20005
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The rich would never submit to a lottery deciding which part of their society should be slaves [Montesquieu]
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24. Political Theory / B. Nature of a State / 1. Purpose of a State
19995
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All states aim at preservation, and then have distinctive individual purposes [Montesquieu]
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24. Political Theory / C. Ruling a State / 2. Leaders / a. Autocracy
19964
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The natural power of a father suggests rule by one person, but that authority can be spread [Montesquieu]
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24. Political Theory / C. Ruling a State / 2. Leaders / b. Monarchy
19986
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Monarchies can act more quickly, because one person is in charge [Montesquieu]
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19972
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The nobility are an indispensable part of a monarchy [Montesquieu]
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19974
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Monarchs must not just have links to the people; they need a body which maintains the laws [Montesquieu]
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19976
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Ambition is good in a monarchy, because the monarch can always restrain it [Montesquieu]
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19978
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In monarchies, men's actions are judged by their grand appearance, not their virtues [Montesquieu]
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19985
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In a monarchy, the nobility must be hereditary, to bind them together [Montesquieu]
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24. Political Theory / C. Ruling a State / 2. Leaders / c. Despotism
19988
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A despot's agents must be given power, so they inevitably become corrupt [Montesquieu]
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19977
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Despotism and honour are incompatible, because honour scorns his power, and lives by rules [Montesquieu]
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20007
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Tyranny is either real violence, or the imposition of unpopular legislation [Montesquieu]
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19975
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Despots are always lazy and ignorant, so they always delegate their power to a vizier [Montesquieu]
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19989
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The will of a despot is an enigma, so magistrates can only follow their own will [Montesquieu]
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24. Political Theory / C. Ruling a State / 2. Leaders / d. Elites
19970
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If the nobility is numerous, the senate is the artistocracy, and the nobles are a democracy [Montesquieu]
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19971
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Aristocracy is democratic if they resemble the people, but not if they resemble the monarch [Montesquieu]
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19984
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Great inequality between aristocrats and the rest is bad - and also among aristocrats themselves [Montesquieu]
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24. Political Theory / C. Ruling a State / 3. Government / a. Government
19980
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If a government is to be preserved, it must first be loved [Montesquieu]
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19996
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A government has a legislature, an international executive, and a domestic executive [Montesquieu]
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24. Political Theory / C. Ruling a State / 3. Government / b. Legislature
19997
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The judiciary must be separate from the legislature, to avoid arbitrary power [Montesquieu]
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24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 5. Democracy / b. Consultation
19965
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The fundamental laws of a democracy decide who can vote [Montesquieu]
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19968
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It is basic to a democracy that the people themselves must name their ministers [Montesquieu]
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19969
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Voting should be public, so the lower classes can be influenced by the example of notable people [Montesquieu]
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19999
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All citizens (apart from the very humble poor) should choose their representatives [Montesquieu]
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24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 5. Democracy / c. Direct democracy
19967
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In a democracy the people should manage themselves, and only delegate what they can't do [Montesquieu]
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19966
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A democratic assembly must have a fixed number, to see whether everyone has spoken [Montesquieu]
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24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 5. Democracy / d. Representative democracy
19998
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If deputies represent people, they are accountable, but less so if they represent places [Montesquieu]
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