Montaigne readings Flashcards
Summarise the ideas of Beaudray
The concept of virtue in the “Essais” of Montaigne, 1973
He can be considered as both a moralist and a “moraliste” : he tries to make ethical decisions and teach others about his morals (stoicism) but he also studies the customs and condition of humans
questions whether his viewpoint changes over time or just his emphasis
meaning of virtue in early Greece and Rome- fortitude, inheritable
opinion of most at M’s time, but he doesn’t fully agree: believes it can be learned
Summarise the ideas of Locher
Primary and Secondary Themes in Montaigne’s “Des Cannibales” - 1976
overall aim is to investigate the desirability or not of using reason
shouldn’t see “cannibals” as the only or main theme- also includes discovery of the new world and his dislike of cosmographers
also- not all knowledge is desirable
uses moving waters and atlantis story to show how knowledge is elusive
uses contradictory attitudes to reason to engage the reader
human mind is the corrupting force
Summarise the ideas of Maclean
Montaigne Philosophe, 1998
“je ne suis pas philosophe”
title of Essais suggests uncertainty
reason and truth common to all his essays
Montaigne can’t be separated from his works
“malgré lui un enfant de son époque”- he is sceptical and suspends judgement
Summarise the ideas of T. Hansen
Well-formed, not well-filled: Montaigne and the Paths of Personhood, 2005
essence of an essay is in its creation- “essayer”
students and teachers should aim to be well-formed, not merely well-filled
just as big a variation within a person as between two people- we are complex
summarise ideas of Nash
Stoicism and the Stoic Theme of Honestum in early french renaissance literature
Montaigne used stoicism for escapism during the wars
emphasis on moral courage without distraction, common at the time
idea of “honestum”= honesty, honor, doing things because they’re right
encouragement of pychological detachment and the “arrière-boutique”
