초록 열기/닫기 버튼
Is Montesquieu antiquarian or modernist? This essay aims to clarify Montesquieu's modernism in his political thought. In his ambigous and duplicated modernity, although he was reproached 'non-heroic morality' of modern era compare to ancient virtue but in some aspect he affiramtive to modern morality.『The Spirit of the Laws』implied dualistic content, on one hand indicted on the other hand defensed the apperance of feminized subject in modern commercial society. And he restricted choice between republic and monarchy, but instead he suggested there are 'good' republic and 'good' monarchy. Montesquieu thought the ancients stired by vitality of irrationalistic passions, so he was not adopted classical philosophy or christian ethics in political matters. However he established concept of the separation of powers by accepted neo-harringtonian perspective of England in partly and link together with French circumstances. Montesquieu acknowledged not only morality of natural laws as essential value guiding existence but also diversity of things explained by rationalistic human being as reflexive meallability. He believed context of human activity is changeable according to time and society but instead the definition of human nature and justice are unchangeable. In project of modernity which refused despotism, serfdom, abortion and cruel punishment etc, so his project of liberal humanistic was project of reformative enlightenment.
키워드열기/닫기 버튼
modernity, commercial society, separation of powers, natural law, project of enlightenment
