Asceticism and Michel de Montaigne’s literary authenticity

Consistency is the very first thing we expect from authentic individuals, that is, consistency between their speech and feats. Nonetheless, Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) knew that few thinkers in history have demonstrated a tight consistency. Even in Socrates (469-399 BC) and Plato (427-347 BC), we can detect inconsistencies. Later, in the decades after Aristotle (384-322 BC), the culture declined to such an extent that the so-called philosophers would not even claim to be consistent. Montaigne’s method for remaining authentic (consistent) was to quit his public office, retire to live in the countryside, and adopt a semi-ascetic lifestyle. On the one hand, he steered away from all grandstanding or virtue signalling. On the other hand, he embraced an effaced, modest, semi-solitary lifestyle. Those two factors made it hard for anyone to criticise Montaigne for “lack of authenticity.” In this respect, Montaigne wrote an essay that constitutes a lifestyle manifesto. I am referring to the essay titled “That We Are to Avoid Pleasures Even at the Expense of Enjoyment.” Here is the link to the original article: https://johnvespasian.com/asceticism-and-michel-de-montaignes-literary-authenticity/