Why the most influential French philosopher claimed he was a frivolous, vain subject.
In short: Michel de Montaigne did not set out to build a philosophical system or educate the masses. Instead, he spent decades writing 'attempts'—essays—to examine his own character. By embracing skepticism and the fallibility of human knowledge, he created a new literary form that remains a cornerstone of modern thought.
Between 1570 and 1592, Michel de Montaigne composed three books of essays, a term he derived from the French 'essais,' meaning tests or attempts. Rather than aiming to prove a point or establish doctrine, Montaigne sought to record his own humours and character with total honesty. He famously prefaced his work by dismissing it as a 'frivolous and vain' subject, yet this introspection provided a profound, enduring insight into the human condition.
Montaigne’s style evolved from formal, structured pieces to a complex, conversational inquiry that freely associated disparate topics. He drew heavily on classical authors like Lucretius and Plutarch, yet he remained deeply skeptical of human reason. Living through the French Wars of Religion, he concluded that because man is finite and truth is infinite, human capacity is naturally inhibited. He famously adopted the motto 'What do I know?' to reflect his belief that certainty is unattainable through human intellect alone, suggesting that absolute truth is accessible only through divine revelation.
The evolution of his work is uniquely documented in the 'Bordeaux Copy,' a fifth edition containing his own handwritten additions. These revisions reveal how his thoughts shifted over time, though he notably left conflicting views intact rather than deleting them. This transparency, combined with his rejection of dogmatism, allowed his work to exert a massive influence on literature, including the plays of William Shakespeare. Today, Montaigne’s essays remain a testament to the diversity of human nature and the folly of certitude, marking him as a pivotal figure whose work bridged the gap between Renaissance thought and the Enlightenment.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Essays (Montaigne)
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