Commonwealth Club of California Podcast Montaigne on Friendship
Dec 10, 2019
Dive into the profound reflections on friendship by Michel de Montaigne. Explore how friendships shape our identities and moral fabric. Discover the complexities of genuine friendship compared to other bonds, enriched by Montaigne's personal experiences. Delve into his thoughts on loss and the emotional turmoil that comes with it, as well as his advocacy for empathy and understanding in a diverse world. This philosophical journey connects the past with contemporary views on relationships.
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Classics Reworked With Modern Skepticism
- Montaigne uses classical learning with skeptical irony to rethink Renaissance ideals.
- He blends admiration for antiquity with modern doubt to invent a new reflective voice.
Finding A Rare Soulmate In La Boétie
- Montaigne met Étienne de La Boétie in the Parliament of Toulouse and found a rare intellectual soulmate.
- Their shared classical passions made La Boétie uniquely precious in provincial 16th-century France.
The Essay As A Personal Experiment
- Montaigne invents the literary essay as a form of personal weighing and trial.
- His essays wander, mix biography, reading, and momentary experience rather than give linear arguments.
