Learn about Montaigne, the man who invented a new way of writing and being read. From the fear of death to the joys of life, Montaigne wrote the book of himself, exploring topics such as atheism, faith, sex, religion, and more. Discover the open-ended and adventurous nature of essays, as well as Montaigne's unique exploration of animals, randomness, simplicity, and complexity in philosophy.
Montaigne's essays covered a wide range of seemingly random topics, providing a fresh and thought-provoking perspective on various aspects of human experience.
Montaigne suggests that both faith and reason are necessary to form a comprehensive view of religion, emphasizing skepticism as a way to keep the conversation and journey of thought alive.
Deep dives
The Philosophy of Quietism
Quietism, a philosophy that emphasizes accepting the world as it is without seeking to change or reorder it, is discussed. The lecturer in the podcast lecture speaks about quietism as a way of leading a quiet life. While quietism can have religious connotations, the essence of it is the belief that thought or philosophy cannot reshape the world. It is a philosophy of accepting the world and focusing on ordering one's own thoughts and perspectives.
Montaigne's Life and Writing Style
The podcast explores the life and writing style of Montaigne, a 16th-century French philosopher and essayist. Montaigne, living during a turbulent time of civil wars in France, retreated to his estate, where he had a tower with a library. He famously wrote essays, which were open-ended and followed a train of thought, often shifting perspectives and offering anecdotes. Montaigne's essays covered a wide range of seemingly random topics, providing a fresh and thought-provoking perspective on various aspects of human experience.
Defending the True Religion
In his essay 'Apology for Raymond Sibont,' Montaigne defends the idea that true religion requires both faith and understanding of the natural order. He argues that blind faith alone is insufficient, as faith can be fickle and contingent upon circumstances. On the other hand, relying solely on human reason is also flawed, as humans are fallible and limited in their understanding. Montaigne suggests that both faith and reason are necessary to form a comprehensive view of religion. He emphasizes the danger of dogmatic beliefs and promotes skepticism as a way to keep the conversation and journey of thought alive.
Politics and Practicality
Montaigne's writing style and philosophy have political implications. He advocates for a pragmatic approach to politics, balancing principles of safety and security. Montaigne criticizes all-or-nothing arguments and the dangers of getting caught up in fervent political beliefs. He advises against the fixation on high stakes and the belief that an argument can be settled in absolute terms. Montaigne suggests that political choices are often shaped by chance and luck plays a significant role. He also explores the challenges and potential misery of being socially fortunate and having intellectual choices that can lead to intellectual vanity.
Episode one in our series on the great essays is about Montaigne, the man who invented a whole new way of writing and being read. From the fear of death to the joys of life, from the perils of atheism to the pitfalls of faith, from sex to religion and back again, Montaigne wrote the book of himself, which was also a guide to what it means to be human. Elephants, civil war, gout, cosmology, torture, tennis balls, disease, diets, and politics too: all life is here.