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Essays

Introduction by J. M. Cohen
Translated by J. M. Cohen
Paperback
$17.00 US
5.03"W x 7.76"H x 0.78"D   | 10 oz | 48 per carton
On sale Jul 01, 1993 | 416 Pages | 9780140178975
Reflections by the creator of the essay form display the humane, skeptical, humorous, and honest views of Montaigne, revealing his thoughts on sexuality, religion, cannibals, intellectuals, and other unexpected themes. Included are such celebrated works as "On Solitude," "To Philosophize Is to Learn How to Die," and "On Experience."
Michel Eyquem de Montaigne was born in 1533, the son and heir of Pierre, Seigneur de Montaigne (who had two previous children who died soon after birth). He was brought up to speak Latin as his mother tongue and always retained a Latin turn of mind; though he knew Greek, he preferred to use translations. After studying law he eventually became counselor to the Parlement of Bordeaux. He married in 1565. In 1569 he published his French version of the Natural Theology of Raymond Sebond; his Apology is only partly a defense of Sebond and sets skeptical limits to human reasoning about God, man and nature. He retired in 1571 to his lands at Montaigne, devoting himself to reading and reflection and to composing his Essays (first version, 1580). He loathed the fanaticism and cruelties of the religious wars of the period, but sided with Catholic orthodoxy and legitimate monarchy. He was twice elected Mayor of Bordeaux (1581 and 1583), a post he held for four years. He died at Montaigne (1592) while preparing the final, and richest, edition of his Essays. View titles by Michel de Montaigne
EssaysIntroduction
To the Reader

Book One
7. That our actions should be judged by our intentions
8. On idleness
9. On liars
10. That no man should be called happy until after his death
21. On the power of the imagination
22. That one man's profit is another's loss
26. On the education of children
27. That it is folly to measure truth and error by our own capacity
28. On friendship
31. On cannibals
36. On the custom of wearing clothes
47. On the uncertainty of our judgement
50. On Democritus and Heraclitus
55. On smells

Book Two
8. On the affection of fathers for their children
10. On books
11. On cruelty
17. On presumption
28. All things have their season
32. A defence of Seneca and Plutarch

Book Three
2. On repentance
3. On three kinds of relationships
6. On vehicles
8. On the art of conversation
12. On physiognomy
13. On experience

About

Reflections by the creator of the essay form display the humane, skeptical, humorous, and honest views of Montaigne, revealing his thoughts on sexuality, religion, cannibals, intellectuals, and other unexpected themes. Included are such celebrated works as "On Solitude," "To Philosophize Is to Learn How to Die," and "On Experience."

Author

Michel Eyquem de Montaigne was born in 1533, the son and heir of Pierre, Seigneur de Montaigne (who had two previous children who died soon after birth). He was brought up to speak Latin as his mother tongue and always retained a Latin turn of mind; though he knew Greek, he preferred to use translations. After studying law he eventually became counselor to the Parlement of Bordeaux. He married in 1565. In 1569 he published his French version of the Natural Theology of Raymond Sebond; his Apology is only partly a defense of Sebond and sets skeptical limits to human reasoning about God, man and nature. He retired in 1571 to his lands at Montaigne, devoting himself to reading and reflection and to composing his Essays (first version, 1580). He loathed the fanaticism and cruelties of the religious wars of the period, but sided with Catholic orthodoxy and legitimate monarchy. He was twice elected Mayor of Bordeaux (1581 and 1583), a post he held for four years. He died at Montaigne (1592) while preparing the final, and richest, edition of his Essays. View titles by Michel de Montaigne

Table of Contents

EssaysIntroduction
To the Reader

Book One
7. That our actions should be judged by our intentions
8. On idleness
9. On liars
10. That no man should be called happy until after his death
21. On the power of the imagination
22. That one man's profit is another's loss
26. On the education of children
27. That it is folly to measure truth and error by our own capacity
28. On friendship
31. On cannibals
36. On the custom of wearing clothes
47. On the uncertainty of our judgement
50. On Democritus and Heraclitus
55. On smells

Book Two
8. On the affection of fathers for their children
10. On books
11. On cruelty
17. On presumption
28. All things have their season
32. A defence of Seneca and Plutarch

Book Three
2. On repentance
3. On three kinds of relationships
6. On vehicles
8. On the art of conversation
12. On physiognomy
13. On experience