The Personal and the Political: Three Fables by Montesquieu - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0761840788 ISBN 13: 9780761840787

Publisher: University Press of America, 2008

Synopsis

The Personal and the Political presents three fables written by social commentator and political thinker Charles-Louis de Secondat, Baron de La Brede et de Montesquieu: The Temple of Cnidus (on eros and justice), Lysimachus (on philosophy and imperial ambition), and Dialogue de Sylla et d'Eucrate (on the limits of political ambition). This work is author W.B. Allen's response to attempts that collapse Montesquieu's analysis of modern political philosophy into a general discussion of virtue and morality by raising anew the issues of true and false happiness and pleasures. Allen maintains that Montesquieu's fables demonstrate the continuing relevance of the issue of philosophical morality, and offer a reconciliation of the tension between philosophical morality and political morality. The Personal and the Political provides a translation of each fable (with parallel French text), a brief introduction and commentaries to develop the context in which each is written and the situations that they address. Each fable is suited to introduce Montesquieu's conceptions of ancient virtues and vices, and what they contribute to modern sensibilities.

About this title

About the Author:

W.B. Allen is Professor of Political Science, Department of Political Science at Michigan State University.

About this edition

• Publisher: University Press of America
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0761840788
• ISBN 13: 9780761840787
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 138