|
|
|
| Theoretical Tension in Montesquieu and Rousseaus Design of Right and Fate of Philosophors Politics |
| Bao Dawei |
| School of Humanities, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310028, China |
|
|
|
|
Abstract Montesquieu and Rousseaus political ideology provided the theory and resources for the design of the revolutionary system in alternative directions. Montesquieus distrust of power and human nature made his democratic system more biased towards power and rights. In his view, the stable operation of the system of democracy is difficult, and the pursuit of “extreme equality” will lead to failure of democracy. But Rousseau is not satisfied with this limited democracy and its just results. His expectation of democracy is not only to achieve the result of decentralization and balances, but also to resist the “extreme inequality” caused by alienation of right. His democratic system, designed by social contract, is closely integrated with his “peoples economics” in his Discourse on Political Economy, which, together with his enlightenment philosophy, became the most respected practice guide before and after the French Revolution. However, the historical conditions and ideological material they used to design the democratic system have ultimately reached its limit in the capitalist social order after the Revolution.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2018, Vol. 20 
