Michel De Montaigne (1533-1592)
Great French essayist and Renaissance humanist; began the essay as a distinct genre or species or writing; Francis Bacon (1597) became the first English essayist
Mastered the essay in exploring subjects as disparate as his own self-awareness to the place of the imagination
to the virtue of barbarians (cannibals)
Developed essays marked by his own
personality, moods, desires, affections, introspection, etc.
Humanism
Developed in the 14th and 15th centuries in Italy and spread to the continent
The philosophy that sought to elevate humanity--
usually an elevation that opposed the supernatural
Writers such as Dr. Johnson and other English writers indentified
themselves as Christian humanists
Promoted education--
especially in the classical languages
Asserted the dignity of man but rejected medieval notions of life
as a training ground for a future life after death
Montaigne was able to have time for reflection, meditation, and writing,
as he retired to his estate in 1570 at age 38
To some, it seemed that Montaigne was obsessed with himself--
a modern notion of the self-centered individual
Here's what he said in defense of the above accusation:
If the world finds fault with me for speaking too much of myself, I find fault with the world for not even thinking of itself
As an early ethnographer, he anticipated modern psychological/cultural theory:
There is as much difference between us and ourselves as between us and others
Of Cannibals influenced Shakespeare's ideas reflected in The Tempest--
especially with regard to colonialism and the nature of savages
Each man calls barbarism whatever is not his own practice
Montaigne
Montaigne builds his essay on the early belief in the dignity and nobility of savages--
those outside civilization or those who lived on its periphery
At its foundation, belief in the nobility of savages assumes the goodness of man--
in direct opposition to the Christian doctrine of original sin
A human being is born--according to the above--as a blank tablet (tabula rasa).
What he or she becomes is dependent on life experiences--whatever is written on the tablet
According to Renaissance (and later Enlightenment thinking), primitive peoples, untainted by civilization
lived in harmony with nature, exhibited innocence, enjoyed almost perfect physical health, displayed utter selflessness and generosity, were endowed with superior moral courage, possessed natural intelligence or untutored wisdom
Those people are wild, just as we call wild the fruits that Nature has produced by herself and in her normal course;
whereas really it is those that we have changed artificially and led astray from the common order, that we should rather call wild
It is not reasonable that art [the product of civilization] should win the place of honor
over our great and powerful mother Nature
The whole day is
spent in dancing
They believe that souls are immortal, and that those who have deserved well of the gods are lodged in that part of heaven
where the sun rises, and the damned in the west
The prophet speaks to them in public, exhorting them to virtue and their duty;
but their whole ethical science contains only these two articles: resoluteness in war and affection for their wives
When he [the prophet] fails to prophesy correctly, and if things turn out otherwise than he has predicted,
he is cut into a thousand pieces
After describing the horrific killing and eating of an enemy by the cannibals Montaigne writes,
"I think there is more barbarity in eating a man alive than in eating him dead, and in tearing by tortures and the rack a body still full of feeling..
."
So we may well call these people barbarians, in respect to the rules of reason,
but not in respect to ourselves, who surpass them in every kind of barbarity
The men there have several wives, and the higher their reputation for valor the more wives they have.
And there is no jealousy, according to Montaigne
Their language is a soft language, with an agreeable sound,
somewhat like Greek in its endings
They said that in the first place they thought it very strong that so many grown men, bearded, strong, and armed,
who were around the king...
should submit to obey a child
They said that in the first place they thought it very stronge that so many grown men, bearded, strong, and armed,
who were around the king...should submit to obey a child
They thought it strange that these needy halves [half the French population] were beggars at their doors, emaciated with hunger and poverty; and they thought it strange that these...
did not take the others by the throat, or set fire to their houses
Famous last lines
All this is not too bad--but what's the use? They don't wear breeches."
Ultimate Reality
Belief in some types of supernatural; Montaigne mentions gods; These cannibals were apparently polytheistic and possibly animistic
Nature of the World
Belief in the natural, physical order; If animistic, hostile forces invaded the natural order and needed to be placated
Humanity
Children of the earth; tribal; warlike
Basis for Morality
Natural revelation; morality developed and understood in primitive societies through intuition, etc. , Mutual benefit; i.e., enemies were excluded from the same moral standards and treatment
Purpose of Society
Maintenance of tribal identity, Protection of the tribe (individuals, family, etc.), Establishment and maintenance of a heritage of bravery, exploits, etc.
