Accuracy of Michel de Montaigne’s personal reflections

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John Vespasian

267 episodes

6 hours ago

JOHN VESPASIAN is the author of eighteen books, including “When everything fails, try this” (2009), “Rationality is the way to happiness” (2009), “The philosophy of builders” (2010), “The 10 principles of rational living” (2012), “Rational living, rational working” (2013), “Consistency: The key to permanent stress relief” (2014), “On becoming unbreakable” (2015), “Thriving in difficult times” (2016), “Causality: Aristotle’s life and ideas” (2024), “Foresight: Schopenhauer’s life and ideas” (2024), and "Constancy: Michel de Montaigne's life and ideas" (2025).

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Accuracy of Michel de Montaigne’s personal reflections

John Vespasian

5 minutes 55 seconds

5 days ago

Accuracy of Michel de Montaigne’s personal reflections

The insertion of personal reflections is the most innovative aspect in the essays of Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592). The previous centuries had relegated personal reflections to poetry. Montaigne is the first author who gave his personal views on a wide range of subjects, placing his reflections on equal level to quotations from Plato, Aristotle, or Cicero. Since Montaigne did not possess expertise in all those areas, it is fair to question the accuracy of his personal views. I have read his essays in detail, assessing how often he got it right. When Montaigne addressed subjects he knew well, like the education of children, his personal reflections are remarkably accurate. However, when he addressed general philosophical questions, his logic often went astray. On too many occasions, he did not draw a clear conclusion. After examining the arguments against and in favour, he stated that the subject is too complex or that human knowledge is too limited. I find those essays particularly disappointing. Montaigne’s reflections grew in accuracy when he treated subjects particularly close to his heart. That’s the case of his essay “On the inconveniences of high status.” Montaigne could speak from experience because, at one time, he had occupied the highest elected post in the city of Bordeaux. During his tenure, Montaigne had faced civil and religious strife, criticism and opposition. The job had placed him in the middle of confrontations between Catholics and Protestants. It became by far the most stressful experience of his life. Montaigne’s personal reflections are inordinately accurate in assessing the disadvantages of high office. He speaks with an open heart of the vulnerability, risks, and reduced privacy that are associated with jobs in the public view. The risks mentioned by Montaigne go further than the mere loss of fortune or reputation. In his essay, he repeatedly points to the risk of assassination by the opposing political faction. Was Montaigne suffering from paranoia? Did he exaggerate the inconveniences of public office? No, I view his remarks as a fair assessment of the situation in sixteenth-century France. Here is the link to the original article: https://johnvespasian.com/accuracy-of-michel-de-montaignes-personal-reflections/