Montesquieu deserves a place in the philosophical canon because as long as there are governments, his teachings and works will remain relevant. His ideas have withstood the test of time: The United States government as we know it has existed for 245 years, which makes it the longest-running constitutional republic in the world. But even more, to study Montesquieu is to gain a greater understanding of world history. Instead of focusing merely on events, Montesquieu is more concerned with the causes of those effects to understand the development and downfall of certain regimes and states as a pattern of humanity. If you don’t care too much for world history, Montesquieu has also produced many great works of social commentary, which provide a refreshingly different perspective of European society that stands apart from the works of other Enlightenment philosophers. To contribute literary works in such a diverse range of genres is a unique talent that requires extensive knowledge in various fields to execute well, which Montesquieu certainly does. Moreover, many Enlightenment philosophers merely constructed theories, albeit insightful and thought-provoking, that have no tangible residue in reality. Conversely, the theories proposed by Montesquieu are not theoretical and have come to fruition and succeeded just as he predicted. His teachings will never be antiquated or obsolete as long as people continue to study government, and reading his works are the essential means to achieving those ends.