Into the first three chapters of Book 1, The Spirit of Laws, Montesquieu

condensed a lifetime of thinking, not so much on law as what law is, (after all, the

work by Montesquieu is entitled The Spirit of Laws, not The Laws of the Spirit).

The definition of law provided to us by Montesquieu can be most clearly

identified as a series of relationships which are derived from the nature of things;

relationships varying not only among human beings, but animals and thought.

Background: Montesquieu, Charles-Louis de Secondatbaron de la Brede et de

Born January 18, 1689, Montesquieu (Caption 1-1) belonged to an old

family of modest wealth that had been ennobled in the 16th century for services

to the crown. Charles-Louis studied at the faculty of law at the University of

Bordeaux, was graduated, and ventured out for experience in law. He married

Jeanne de Lartique and through marriage he became socially and financially

secure. He wrote many works pertaining to the lawfield (Encarta).

"Laws, in their most general signification,

and He made them, because they are in relation to His wisdom and power."

The Spirit of Laws gives us the ability to share in Montesquieu's most

It is also in his discussion of natural law that Montesquieu comes to the

http://www.taxexemptlaw.com/library/sol-01.shtml (retrieved 24 May

said on the law into some complex equation, eliminating the common and

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 956
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)