Final answer:
In 'The Spirit of the Laws,' Montesquieu emphasizes the difference between independence and liberty, explaining that laws are designed to protect liberty as long as there is a separation of powers within the government.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Charles de Montesquieu’s The Spirit of the Laws, the author emphasizes that liberty and independence are distinct concepts. Montesquieu sees liberty as the peace of mind that comes from living under a government that has laws to protect the public welfare, while still maintaining as much personal freedom as possible. He argues that to preserve political liberty, there must be a separation of powers within the government. This separation ensures that the executive, legislative, and judicial branches have distinctly different powers so that no single branch can overreach its authority. In this way, laws provide a framework within which liberty flourishes, rather than restricting it. Therefore, the answer to the student's question would be that Montesquieu does not believe that laws restrict liberty; instead, they enable it as long as they are designed and implemented with the protection of public safety and the separation of powers in mind.