Oeuvres complètes - Montesquieu, Charles de Secondat 1689-1755; Vedel, Georges 1910-2002; Oster, Daniel (Paris Seuil, 1964)
Charles Louis de Secondat, Baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu (1689-1755), generally referred to as simply Montesquieu, was a French judge, man of letters, historian, and political philosopher.
He is the principal source of the theory of separation of powers, which is implemented in many constitutions throughout the world. He is also known for doing more than any other author to secure the place of the word despotism in the political lexicon. His anonymously published The Spirit of Law (1748), which was received well in both Great Britain and the American colonies, influenced the Founding Fathers of the United States in drafting the U.S. Constitution.
Keywords: 18th Century (1701-1800); Philosophy; Politics; France