Introductory description

PH370-15 Montaigne's Essays

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Topics to be covered include the literary form of the Essays and its relation to Montaigne’s conception of self-knowledge and the self; Montaigne’s response to ethical diversity and his views on the authority of ethical beliefs; Montaigne’s account of virtues and vices (esp. cruelty and cowardice, and the distinction between public and private virtues); the nature of friendship and its bearing on self-knowledge; Montaigne’s political views and political philosophy; the nature of Montaigne’s scepticism and its relation to ancient sceptical traditions, on the one hand, and Descartes’ method of doubt, on the other; human nature and the nature of non-human animals; the role Montaigne’s response to the reformation and to the French wars of religion plays in his thinking; the role of the New World in Montaigne’s thinking.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• To allow students to develop an in-depth understanding of some key themes and arguments in Montaigne’s Essays.
• To develop an understanding of the role of in the formation of modern theoretical and practical philosophy.
• To make sense of Montaigne’s Essays by reference to their historical context.
• To engage critically with some of Montaigne’s claims and arguments.

Indicative reading list

Michel de Montaigne, Essays (tr. by D. Frame)
S. Bakewell, How to Live: A Life of Montaigne in one question and twenty attempts at an answer
M.A. Screech, Montaigne and Melancholy
E. Auerbach, Mimesis, ch. 12
D. Wiggins, Ethics, ch. 11
C. Taylor, Sources of the Self
U. Langer (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Montaigne
R. Popkin, The History of Scepticism from Erasmus to Spinoza
M. Burnyeat (ed.) The Sceptical Tradition
J. Annas and J. Barnes, The Modes of Scepticism
Starobinski, Montaigne in Motion
David Lewis Schaefer, The Political Philosophy of Montaigne
J. Shklar, Ordinary Vices
B. Fontana, Montaigne's Politics: Authority and Governance in the Essais
Donald Frame, Montaigne: A Biography
David Lewis Schaefer, Freedom over Servitude

Interdisciplinary

Co-taught with History Department.

Subject specific skills

At the end of this course students will be able to
understand Montaigne’s approach to, and style of writing about, a number of key issues, including the nature of ethical judgment, virtues and vices, scepticism, toleration, self-knowledge, reasons of state, truth and truthfulness, dying.

Transferable skills

At the end of this course students will be able to

• interpret complex texts in the light of their cultural/historical contexts
• think carefully about issues regarding diversity, toleration, and tradition