A 500-Year-Old Philosopher's Advice on Life

Source: www.youtube.com

Michel de Montaigne was a philosopher of the French Renaissance (16th century) whose “Essays” have inspired readers for more than 500 years. His work influenced many important philosophers and writers after his death including Bacon, Descartes, Pascal, Emerson, and Nietzsche. In fact, many scholars believe that Montainge's work influenced the writings of Shakespeare and many journal articles and dissertations exist comparing Montaingne's essays to excerpts from Shakespeare's plays.

Gustave Flaubert (Madame Bovary) asserted "Read Montaigne; he will calm you. Read him in order to live.”

And this is exactly what I did recently and found Montaigne's essays very reassuring, affirming, and insightful. It was Sarah Bakewell's book "How to Live: Or A Life of Montaigne in One Question and Twenty Attempts at an Answer" (2011, Other Press) that inspired my new appreciation for Montaigne's work. Bakewell gathers Montaigne's essays and narratives upon which he reflects on the challenges of daily life and she quickly demonstrates that the challenges of living that we have today are similar to those in Montaigne's time.

Montaigne popularized autobiography, reflection, and unedited narrative that we are so accustomed to experiencing today. He captured lived snapshots of thoughts, feelings, and experiences through anecdotes and a natural personal storytelling style.

So that you have an idea, topics from Montaigne’s Essays include:

● Give up control
● Be ordinary and imperfect
● Let life be its own answer
● Guard your Humanity
● See the World
● Be convivial: live with others

As you read his work or Bakewell's text, you will be reminded that the more things change, the more they stay the same. While we may often feel as if life is presenting challenges unique to our existence, reading Montaigne (and for that matter works of literature) is a reflection on the shared peaks and nadirs life is.