Montesquieu and Rousseau

Author: Emile Durkheim
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-01-01
Features: This is the fifth volume of the Collected Works of Emile Durkheim, focusing on political philosophy. The two major documents are Montesquieu and Rousseau, consisting of two parts: Montesquieu's Contribution to the Rise of Social Science and Rousseau's (The Social Contract). In these two documents, Durkheim's arguments attempt to suggest that the origins of sociology should be traced back to Montesquieu and Rousseau's theories on 'law.' The second document, Socialism and Saint-Simon, is compiled based on Durkheim's lecture notes, with the central thesis being the fundamental differences between socialism and communism. These differences lead to fundamental distinctions in their origins, forms, social construction, and direction. This volume is indispensable for studying Durkheim's political philosophy. By examining his interpretation of Rousseau's and Montesquieu's thought, as well as his critique of the theoretical foundations of socialism, one can gain a more comprehensive and in-depth understanding of Durkheim's ideas. Moreover, the translation quality of this book is very high.