Montesquieu's Political Typology and His Concept of Natural Law: Methodological Holism and Ontological Individualism

FAIN: FR-10364-78

David B. Young
University of Central Missouri (Warrensburg, MO 64093-2324)

To explore the antecedents of Montesquieu's distinction between monarchy and despotism. Study will also investigate the decline of the classical dichotomy between aristocracy and democracy in early modern Europe. Study will show that Montesquieu, unlike most of his contemporaries and immediate predecessors, was a methodological holist, and thus he merits the praise of Comte and Durkheim. Project will show that Montesquieu was an ontological individualist and, as such, he could and did use natural law criteria in evaluating different regimes.