Arsehole aristocracy (or: Montesquieu on honour, revisited). (October 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brooke, Christopher
• Other Names: Sagar Paul guest-editor.; Brooke Christopher guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: European journal of political theory. Volume 17:Number 4(2018)
• Page Start: 391
• Page End: 410
• Publication Date: 2018-10
• Subjects: Arseholes -- aristocracy -- history of political thought -- István Hont -- Montesquieu; Political science -- Periodicals; Political science -- Europe -- Periodicals; 320.05
• DOI: 10.1177/1474885118783603
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1474-8851

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.