Montaigne, Michel Eyquem de

Montaigne, Michel Eyquem de
(1533–1592)
French essayist. The father-figure of scepticism in France and modern Europe, Montaigne was born near Bordeaux. He followed a sporadic career in public life before retiring in 1571, although he continued to play a role in politics on behalf of the Protestant Henri de Navarre, and was mayor of Bordeaux in 1581. As befits someone involved in the civil and religious unrest of the time, Montaigne had no very high opinion of the faculties and achievements of mankind. His attitude found ample confirmation in the work of Sextus Empiricus, whose motto, ‘Que sais-je’ (‘What do I know?’), Montaigne adopted for himself. His fame rests on his Essais (1580, trs. as Essays, 1603, and possibly known to Shakespeare) which reveal an engaging, humane, shrewd, and self-conscious philosophical personality. His most famous philosophical essay, the ‘Apology for Raimond Sebond’, is a masterly compendium of sceptical arguments, and had an immense influence on the following generation of French philosophers (see Descartes, Foucher, Gassendi, Mersenne ). In the ‘Apology’ Sebond, an otherwise minor theologian who undertook to show how Catholic belief can be established by the light of reason, is defended by the backhanded device of admitting that his reasons for his beliefs are bad, but showing that they are no worse than other human reason for belief. Montaigne can be interpreted both as a forerunner of Kant, confining reason to make room for faith, and as an Enlightenment figure before his time.

Philosophy dictionary. . 2011.

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  • MONTAIGNE, Michel Eyquem de — (1533 1592) Michel Eyquem de Montaigne is famous for his essays, a genre of writing he largely originated, and for the honest, frank observations found within these essays. Montaigne also served as the mayor of Bordeaux and was friends with Henri …   Renaissance and Reformation 1500-1620: A Biographical Dictionary

  • Montaigne, Michel Eyquem de — (1533 1592)    writer    Michel Eyquem de Montaigne, who introduced the essay as a literary form, was born in the château of Montaigne near Libourne, to a wealthy family. Fluent in Latin at an early age, he went to study at the Collège de Guyenne …   France. A reference guide from Renaissance to the Present

  • Montaigne,Michel Eyquem de — Mon·taigne (mŏn tānʹ, môn tĕnʹyə), Michel Eyquem de. 1533 1592. French essayist whose discursive, lively personal essays are considered the highest expression of 16th century French prose. * * * …   Universalium

  • Montaigne, Michel (Eyquem) de — born Feb. 28, 1533, Château de Montaigne, near Bordeaux, France died Sept. 23, 1592, Château de Montaigne French courtier and author. Born into the minor nobility, Montaigne received an excellent Classical education (speaking only Latin up to age …   Universalium

  • Montaigne, Michel (Eyquem) de — (28 feb. 1533, Castillo de Montaigne, cerca de Burdeos, Francia–23 sep. 1592, Castillo de Montaigne). Cortesano y autor francés. Nacido dentro de la nobleza menor, Montaigne recibió una excelente educación clásica (habló solamente latín hasta los …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Montaigne, Michel Eyquem de — ► (1533 92) Moralista y escritor francés. Aprendió latín como lengua viva antes que francés, hablándolo con su preceptor y con la servidumbre de la casa. Muerto su padre en 1568, y convertido en señor de Montaigne, se retiró a sus tierras. Su… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Montaigne, Michel (Eyquem) de —  (1533–1592) French philosopher and essayist …   Bryson’s dictionary for writers and editors

  • Michel Eyquem Seigneur de Montaigne — Montaigne auf einem zeitgenössischen Gemälde Michel Eyquem de Montaigne (* 28. Februar 1533 auf Schloss Montaigne in der Dordogne; † 13. September 1592 ebenda) war Politiker, Philosoph und Begründer der Essayistik …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Michel Eyquem de Montaigne — Montaigne auf einem zeitgenössischen Gemälde Michel Eyquem de Montaigne (* 28. Februar 1533 auf Schloss Montaigne in der Dordogne; † 13. September 1592 ebenda) war Politiker, Philosoph und Begründer der Essayistik …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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