Arsehole aristocracy (or: Montesquieu on honour, revisited)

European Journal of Political Theory 17 (4):391-410 (2018)
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Abstract

The 18th-century French political theorist the Baron de Montesquieu described honour as the ‘principle’ – or animating force – of a well-functioning monarchy, which he thought the appropriate regime type for an economically unequal society extended over a broad territory. Existing literature often presents this honour in terms of lofty ambition, the desire for preference and distinction, a spring for political agency or a spur to the most admirable kind of conduct in public life and the performance of great deeds. Perhaps so. But it also seems to involve quite a bit of what the contemporary philosopher Aaron James calls ‘being an asshole’, and the article will explore what happens to Montesquieu’s political theory of monarchy – which is foundational for an understanding of modern politics – when we reverse the usual perspective and consider it through the lens of the arsehole aristocracy.

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Citations of this work

Taking back control.Robert Jubb - 2023 - Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy 26 (2):159-180.

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References found in this work

A Theory of Justice: Revised Edition.John Rawls - 1999 - Harvard University Press.
On Human Conduct.David Copp - 1977 - Philosophical Review 86 (2):235.
There is No Such Thing as Ideal Theory.Jacob T. Levy - 2016 - Social Philosophy and Policy 33 (1-2):312-333.

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