法律知识导读（英文）第十六单元 The Spirit of the Laws.pptVIP

Unit 16 The Spirit of the Laws 《论法的精神》 Lead-in 孟德斯鸠（1689-1755），法国启蒙时期的思想家、社会学家，是西方国家学说和法学理论的奠基人。《论法的精神》是他最重要的、影响最大的著作，也是一部综合性的政治学著作。该书所倡导的法制、政治自由和权力分立是对神学和封建专制的有力抨击，成为此后资产阶级大革命的政治纲领。孟德斯鸠集中讨论的不是具体的法律规范本身，而是法的精神，即法律符合人类理性的必然性和规律性。他深入探讨了自由赖以存在的体制条件，并借此找到恢复自由的基本手段──三权分立，以权力制约权力，防止权力滥用。他主张宪法统率下权力分立与制衡的政治制度，使法律、自由与宪法结合起来，奠定了宪政理论的基本框架，这也是其对政治理论最杰出的贡献。 The Spirit of the Law ------The Spirit of the Laws coveres many things like the law, social life, and the study of anthropology and provides more than 3,000 commendations. In this political treatise Montesquieu pleaded in favor of a constitutional system of government and the separation of powers, the ending of slavery, the preservation of civil liberties and the law, and the idea that political institutions ought to reflect the social and geographical aspects of each community. Constitutional theory Montesquieu defines three main kinds: republican, monarchical, and despotic. Republican political systems vary depending on how broadly they extend citizenship rights --- democratic republics and aristocratic republics. ★ The distinction between monarchy and despotism hinges on whether or not intermediate powers (such as the nobility, the clergy, etc.) exist that can restrain the authority of the ruler. Principles that motivate citizen behaviour democratic republics : the love of virtue -- the willingness to put the interests of the community ahead of private interests. For monarchies: the love of honor -- the desire to attain greater rank and privilege. For despotisms: the fear of the ruler. Liberty and the separation of powers Liberty consists in collective self-government -- i.e. that liberty and democracy are the same. Liberty consists in being able to do whatever one wants without constraint. ★ Political liberty is not possible in a despotic political system, but it is possible, though not guaranteed, in republics and monarchies because: 1. The separation of the powers of governm