Maximilien Robespierre and his Context: On the Concept of Equality, the Death Penalty and Religion

Villalobos M.E.Q. · Revista de Estudios Historico-Juridicos (2022) · DOI: 10.4067/s0716-54552022000100711

Resumen

Robespierre’s speeches are practically the only source to reach his thought, not only on the path that the revolution should follow, but also on other transcendental issues both in those days and today. The latter acquire a real dimension when they are considered, within their context, as a factor to forge a judgment about the historical role of this character who, most of the time, appears as an abominable and monstrous being, responsible for a period of violence and repression during the French Revolution. Therefore, in this paper we propose an approach to three of these issues, which are key to understanding the real magnitude of their postulates and how they fit into a scenario identified as one of the darkest in modern history. The issues to be addressed from his speeches will be the search for authentic equality among men, which is evident in his rejection of the idea of the census vote; his opposition to the death penalty as a generalized sentence, although admitting exceptions for its application; religion, which he considers essential for life in society, as well as tolerance for religions of a divine nature, as long as they do not violate the principles of civil religion, that is, the state religion.

Instituciones: Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas