Michel de Montaigne and existentialism

Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) is regarded as the first existentialist philosopher in history because he accepted the inevitability of death, and sought to maximise his happiness in every situation. Instead of fearing death, Montaigne recommended getting acquainted with it, so that it becomes part of our expectations. The consciousness of our limited lifespan can help us make the best of every day and every opportunity. Montaigne’s individualism reinforced his existentialism. He showed little interest in abstract rules that tell everybody what to do with his life. Instead, Montaigne recommended us to live in accordance with our true self. That’s the best path to a full enjoyment of life, he argued. Like the twentieth century existentialists Jean-Paul Sartre (1905-1980) and Albert Camus (1913-1960), Montaigne was suspicious of absolute ethical truths. His prescriptions for joy and effectiveness are markedly subjective. He cared more for a good day’s work than for saving the world. Montaigne also showed his existentialism in his absence of discomfort in the face of uncertainty. Plato, Aristotle and other philosophers had wanted to build systems of thought that lead to certainty, but Montaigne could not care less. Instead of agonising about uncertainty, Montaigne took for granted that the future is, to a large extent, unpredictable. The path to high effectiveness and happiness starts with flexibility. Self-improvement is commendable, but perfection is a goal that we can never achieve. Fallibility is the price we pay for being alive. Let us work at improving ourselves, but without growing depressed about our deficiencies. Montaigne’s respect for individual choices is another trait of his existentialism. The path to happiness is uniquely personal. Choose your own path and take responsibility for your actions, advised Montaigne. Four centuries later, his prescription was replicated almost literally by Jean-Paul Sartre. The influence of Montaigne on existentialism was quiet and unrecognised. In the nineteenth century, it happened often that philosophers reproduced Montaigne’s formulations but without giving him any credit. They fed on his writings and regurgitated his ideas, passing them off as fresh and original. Here is the link to the original article: https://johnvespasian.com/michel-de-montaigne-and-existentialism/