Charles-Louis de Secondat

Charles-Louis de Secondat, Baron de La Brède et de Montesquieu, was an influential French thinker of the 18th century. He is best known for his ideas on government and political science, particularly the concept of the separation of powers—dividing government into branches like legislative, executive, and judicial—to prevent tyranny. Montesquieu's work, "The Spirit of the Laws," helped shape modern constitutional design and democratic principles. His insights emphasized the importance of analyzing different societies and laws to understand human behavior and political stability.