The imperfection of aristocracy
opposing arguments between Hobbes and Montesquieu in De Cive and The Spirit of Laws
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26512/rfmc.v13i3.59898Keywords:
Political Philosophy, Modern Philosophy, Republic, Monarchy, DemocracyAbstract
This study seeks to understand why Hobbes and Montesquieu arrived at opposite conclusions regarding aristocracy, despite agreeing that it is inherently imperfect. Both even articulate their conclusions in similar terms: Hobbes argues that aristocracy must distance itself from democracy and move closer to monarchy, whereas Montesquieu contends that it must distance itself from monarchy and move closer to democracy. To address this, the article first offers an overview of the political theory of both philosophers and then turns to a closer examination of the chapters in which they develop these conclusions. The findings indicate that each criticizes different aspects of aristocracy: Hobbes highlights its dependence on deliberation, an element found to a greater extent in democracy, which leads him to defend monarchical government more emphatically; Montesquieu, in turn, emphasizes the contradictory nature of aristocracy as a republic founded on inequality, an incomplete version of the ideal republic, namely democracy.
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