Meteorological Climate Theory of Montesque

1. “Meteorological Climate Theory”
Montesquieu:

2. Content:
I. Background
II. Forms of government
III. Meteorological Climate Theory
IV. Reflection towards theory
V. Conclusion

3. Background
 Baron de Montesquieu (1689 - 1755)
 A French social commentator and political thinker
 Best known works:
Lettres Persanes – The Persian Letters (1721)
L’Esprit des lois – The Spirit of the Laws (1748)

4. Background (Cont’)
If the laws are appropriate, if the
proper “Spirit” is observed in
their formulation and
application, the stability of the
society will be preserved.

5. Forms of Government
 According to Montesquieu, there are three forms of
government:
 Republican (Democracy & Aristocracy) – education must
teach to love of country.
 Monarchy - education should teach the paramountcy of
self- interest.
 Despotism – education should teach of servility.

6. Forms of Govt. (Cont’)
 A government’s corruption, “begins with that of its principles.”
It’s important to have the proper kind of equality in a democratic republic, the
spirit of equality.
A natural aristocracy, leaders and people should have equal under the law.
In monarchy, power is demand to share among
nobility, clergy, courts, cities, and king.
For corruption of despotism is impossible because it is already corrupt.

7. Forms of Govt. (Cont’)
 A republic requires a small territory.
 Larger republics are endangered by internal factions, while
republics that are too small susceptible to invasion.
How to escape from such dilemma?
 The establishment of a confederation.
 Still this theory is ingenious.

8. Meteorological Climate Theory
 Climate, soil, economics, religion, customs, and traditions must all
be considered.
 According to Montesquieu, “the people of hot climates are more
effeminate, weaker, less brave, more slavish, more given to pleasure
than are their fellows in the cold climate.”
 Montesquieu also correlates religion with political forms:
Mohammedanism is associated with despotism
Catholicism with monarchy
Protestantism with republicanism

9. Meteorological Climate Th. (Cont’)
 Climatic conditions are directly related to
economics, occupation, customs, and traditions, and thus indirectly
to constitutions.
 Montesquieu says that all factors considered influence man and
mold a “General Spirit” within a nation which must be taken into
account by legislators and leaders.
 So, the function of legislators is to discover and understand the
spirit, not to change it.

10. Reflection toward theory
 Disagree =>
“A republic requires a small territory.”
 Agree + Disagree =>
“The people of hot climates are more
effeminate, weaker, less brave, more slavish, more given
to pleasure than are their fellows in the cold climates.”

11. Conclusion
 There are three forms of government according to
Montesquieu, republican, monarchy, and despotism.
 All factors such as climate, soil, economics, religion, customs, and
tradition influence the physiology and psychology of a
people, determine their character in which institutions they live.
 People of hot climate tend to be inferior to the people of cold
climate.
 General spirit within a nation which must be taken into account by
legislators and leaders.

12. Q & A