Montesquieu and the Notion of Moderation in Modern Political Philosophy

Abstract : In modern political philosophy, Montesquieu's thought and his principle of moderation are different from the Golden mean of Aristotle or the concept of political moderation by Cicero. The French philosopher, as a good political realist gives himself a mission and it is the conception of a political theory whose objective is to keep the exercise of the power from any dictatorial drift. It is in this spirit that Montesquieu devotes himself to an intellectual enterprise of a political consciousness that fits into the spirit of Enlightenment. The spirit of moderation must be the leitmotiv of politics and not an incentive for prudence. His scientific approach to politics shows the philosopher's determination to bequeath a sure value of the political phenomenon to future generations. Keywords: Determination, Moderation, politics, prudence, realism.