What principle sustains each kind of government: republic, monarchy, despotism?

Translation: quotations from Montesquieu are quoted in Thomas Nugent's 1750 English translation; quoted in the anonymous 1777 English translation of the London Complete Works, not his original words.

1. WHAT HE SAID (the record)

Record ledger

• BELIEF (undated; quoted in Thomas Nugent's 1750 English translation): Montesquieu believed that a republic must have something to apprehend to maintain its strength and activity, which contrasts with monarchies that rely on a certain kind of confidence. This is shown in his discussion of the corruption of the principle of aristocracy and the conditions under which a republic may maintain its constitution. "A fear of the Persians supported the laws of Greece. Carthage and Rome were alarmed and strengthened by each other." [1]
• BELIEF (undated; quoted in Thomas Nugent's 1750 English translation): Montesquieu believes that the principle of Christianity, when deeply engraved on the heart, is more powerful than the false honour of monarchies, the humane virtues of republics, or the servile fear of despotic states, and can sustain a government of any duration. "The principles of Christianity, deeply engraved on the heart, would be infinitely more powerful than the false honour of monarchies, than the humane virtues of republics, or the servile fear of despotic states." [2]
• BELIEF (undated; quoted in Thomas Nugent's 1750 English translation): Montesquieu believes that the principle of a republican government is virtue, while monarchy and despotism rely on different mechanisms. He argues that virtue is necessary for a popular state, but not as essential for monarchical or despotic governments, which rely on the force of laws or the prince's authority. "THERE is no great share of probity necessary to support a monarchical or despotic government: the force of laws, in one, and the prince's arm, in the other, are sufficient to direct and maintain the whole: but, in a popular state, one spring more is necessary, namely, virtue." [3]
• BELIEF (undated; quoted in Thomas Nugent's 1750 English translation): Montesquieu argues that each kind of government is sustained by a specific principle: virtue in republics, moderation in moderate governments, and the absence of these principles in despotic states, which leads to injustice and corruption. "The cession of goods is naturally admitted in moderate governments, but especially in republics, because of the greater confidence usually placed in the probity of the citizens, and the lenity and moderation arising from a form of government which every subject seems to have preferred to all others." [4]
• BELIEF (undated; quoted in Thomas Nugent's 1750 English translation): Montesquieu believes that the principle of monarchy is honor, which supplies the place of political virtue and inspires actions that lead to the end of government. He explains that honor, as a prejudice of rank and status, is properly placed in monarchy and gives life to the government without being dangerous because it can be continually checked. (key quote above) [5]
• BELIEF (undated; quoted in Thomas Nugent's 1750 English translation): Montesquieu believed that the principle sustaining each kind of government is different: virtue in republics, honor in monarchies, and fear in despotic governments. [6]
• BELIEF (undated; quoted in Thomas Nugent's 1750 English translation): Montesquieu believes that the principle of a republic is virtue, defined as a love of the republic and a love of equality in a democracy. This is shown by his explanation of what sustains a republic. (key quote above) [7]
• BELIEF (undated; quoted in Thomas Nugent's 1750 English translation): Montesquieu believes that laws should be relative to the nature and principle of each government, whether they form it (as with political laws) or support it (as with civil institutions). He argues that the principle of each government has a strong influence on its laws, and understanding this principle is key to understanding the laws themselves. "They should be relative to the nature and principle of each government; whether they form it, as may be said of political laws; or whether they support it, as in the case of civil institutions." [8]
• BELIEF (undated; quoted in the anonymous 1777 English translation of the London Complete Works): Montesquieu believed that the principle sustaining a republic is the love of the republic, which is equality; the principle sustaining monarchy is honour, which is ambition and the love of esteem; and the principle sustaining despotism is fear. He argues that the strength of these principles determines the stability of each government. "As to the principle of the three governments; that of democracy is the love of the republic, that is, of equality. In monarchies... the principle is honour, that is, ambition, and the love of esteem. Lastly, under despotism, it is fear." [9]
• BELIEF (undated; quoted in the anonymous 1777 English translation of the London Complete Works): Montesquieu believed that the principle of each government sustains it: in a republic, equality and frugality; in monarchy, support of nobility without ruining the people; in a despotic government, silencing and subjection of all people. "The laws which the legislator makes ought to be conformable to the principle of each government: in a republic, to maintain equality and frugality; in monarchy, to support the nobility without ruining the people; in a despotic government, to silence and equally to keep under subjection those of every condition." [10]

What cuts against it

• The contrary-evidence entries are already in the record ledger above: [1], [2], [9], [10].

2. HOW IT APPLIES (reasoning; inference is marked)

1. Montesquieu identified the principle of each government as essential to its functioning.

2. He stated that the principle of a republic is virtue, defined as a love of the republic and equality. (key quote above) [7] (quoted in Thomas Nugent's 1750 English translation) (inference)

3. He argued that the principle of monarchy is honor, which supplies the place of political virtue and inspires actions that lead to the end of government. (key quote above) [5] (quoted in Thomas Nugent's 1750 English translation) (inference)

4. He explained that the principle of despotism is fear, as it is founded on the power to take life and lacks fixed rules and laws. "HONOUR is far from being the principle of despotic government: mankind being here all upon a level, no one person can prefer himself to another; and as, on the other hand, they are all slaves, they can give themselves no sort of preference." [11] (quoted in Thomas Nugent's 1750 English translation) (inference)

5. He concluded that these principles are what should guide each form of government to be perfect, even if they may not always be followed in practice. "SUCH are the principles of the three sorts of government: which does not imply, that, in a particular republic, they actually are, but that they ought to be, virtuous: nor does it prove, that, in a particular monarchy, they are actuated by honour; or, in a particular despotic government, by fear; but that they ought to be directed by these principles, otherwise the government is imperfect." [12] (quoted in Thomas Nugent's 1750 English translation) (inference)

3. HIS TAKE

Record coverage: DIRECT

The record is silent on the exact wording of Montesquieu's belief about the principle sustaining each kind of government, but the principles are clearly outlined in his work.

Extrapolation: Montesquieu believed that the principle sustaining a republic is virtue, the principle sustaining a monarchy is honor, and the principle sustaining despotism is fear. He argued that these principles are essential to the functioning of each form of government and that they should guide the laws and institutions of each.

Competing readings: One reading is that Montesquieu believed that the principle sustaining a republic is the love of the republic, which is equality; the principle sustaining monarchy is honour, which is ambition and the love of esteem; and the principle sustaining despotism is fear. This is a paraphrase by D'Alembert and may not reflect Montesquieu's exact words. Another reading is that Montesquieu believed that the principle of each government sustains it: in a republic, equality and frugality; in monarchy, support of nobility without ruining the people; in a despotic government, silencing and subjection of all people. This is also a paraphrase by D'Alembert and may not reflect Montesquieu's exact words.

Confidence: High, as the record directly addresses the question and the principles are clearly outlined in Montesquieu's work.