Charles-Louis de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu, was the first great modern conservative
?. He argued that the aristocracy
? Voltaire would decry protected the state from the [absolutist despot]
? (or
monarchy) and from the [despotism of the many]
? (or
anarchy). His was a purely political and rational
? defense, conveniently non-economic. Montesquieu's motto was, "Liberty
? is the stepchild of privilege
?." This allowed Montesquieu to defend the [constitutional monarch]
? as he claimed it was governed by honor. Montesquieu argued that the
monarchs could become too passionate and the commons were too big and too egalitarian
? to rule properly. However, he portrayed the aristocracy
? as having and maintaining the honor that kept monarchies constitutional
?. But, he also warned that the aristocracy
? is doomed when it becomes self-interested, arrogant and parasitic.
Montesquieu's most radical work situated the three French classes into a "[checks and balances]?" (A termed he coined.) of three sovereignties; the monarchy, the aristocracy?, and [the commons]?. Montesquieu saw two types of powers existing; the sovereign? and the administrative?. The [administrative powers]? were the legislative?, the executive?, and the judiciary?. These powers were to be divided up amongst the three classes so that each would have a power over the other. This is so radical because it completely eliminates the clergy? from the estates and because it erases any last vestige of a [feudalistic structure]?.