Life and Essays of Michel de Montaigne
French Philosopher Known for Essay Apology for Raymond Sebond
Sep 27, 2009
French philosopher Michel de Montaigne was a major philosopher and writer of the Renaissance. His most important work is Essays, (1580, 1588 and 1595,) containing all of his writings.
Brief Profile of Michel de Montaigne
Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) was born into a wealthy French family. His humanist father provided him with an unusual childhood and education, including three years in the charge of a peasant family, exclusive use of Latin, and exposure to music.
He attended a prestigious boarding school near Bordeaux and studied law in Toulouse. When his father died in 1568, he returned to the family chateau and devoted his life to thinking and writing.
Apology for Raymond Sebond and other Essays
Unusual in his time, he recorded three books of essays, rarely concerned with man's relationship to God, but rather, in secular issues. He was more interested how he and other human beings related to each other, and to the world.
Montaigne realized that certainty was impossible to come by – that reason, it seemed was not a universal standard, and a general skepticism seemed appropriate. He posit as a motto in his foremost essay of skepticism, Apology for Raymond Sebond, "What do I know?"
This essay is charged with negativity, much adrift in the sea of relativism. Despite his skepticism, Montaigne remained a Catholic. Interestingly, his other essays were more positive, which liberates from an uncertain world.
Montaigne's Philosophy of Relativism
In his skepticism, Montaigne accepted the full implications of relativism by denying certainties. For example, there were no good reasons for believing that humans were superior to other species. They were different, yes, but there was no universal standard about judgment on superiority.
He further extended his scepticism to cultures. In his essay On Custom, he claims that "the laws of conscience, which we say are born of nature, are in effect, born on custom…" that different cultures have different customs. And all customs were not equally acceptable, as well as individuals are not necessarily happy with the culture they inhabited.
Montaigne, however accepted that the idea of "reason" and "nature" are standards which only God could define and help humankind in their exercise of judgment.
Montaigne's Philosophy Rationale
Michel de Montaigne was engaged in a dialogue with himself, which he commended to other individuals and cultures.
His philosophy was more of a way of life rather than a science. He saw new scientific theories as contributions to endless process of discoveries. Knowledge, he believed so as not to stifle enquiry, must also be promoted. Therefore, experiencing and living must be continuing activities.
Influence of Michel de Montaigne
His writings include a journal of travels in Italy and a collection of letters, some preserved at the Royal Palace in Monaco. He inspired later thinkers, including Descartes and Pascal. His eloquent essays and love of enquiry made philosopher Nietzsche comment, "That such a man wrote has truly augmented the joy of living on earth."
Shakespeare's The Tempest owed a great deal to Montaigne's essay On Cannibals, in which he attacked the notion that European culture was any way closer to God, truth or goodness. In recent times, the anthropologist C. Levi-Strauss considered Montaigne the pioneer of cultural relativism.
Sources:
- McGovern, Una, Ed. Biographical Dictionary. Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap Publishers, 2002.
- Stokes, Philip. Philosophy, the Great Thinkers. London: Capella, 2007.
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