Michel de Montaigne’s impact on French literature and cultural identity

In assessing cultural influences, I find it more conclusive to look at philosophical values than at anecdotes and artifices of style. Thinkers leave behind ethical systems to live by, and the very best of those thinkers build intellectual systems to support their values. Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) belongs to the group that left behind ethical guidelines, practical and tangible, but roving and disorderly. Why? Because he cared for finding the path to happiness, but not for the implicit metaphysics, epistemology, politics and aesthetics. Due to his philosophical limitations, Montaigne has exerted a narrow influence on French literature and cultural identity. It would be an exaggeration to claim a vast influence from ideas, values and behavioural models that we can barely characterise. I am not underrating Montaigne’s work. My goal is to place it in the right context, so that we can benefit from its wisdom. I would see little benefit in going on philosophical tangents that are only thinly related to Montaigne’s purpose and logic. Let us take for instance Montaigne’s essay “On three good women.” Montaigne was in his mid-forties when he wrote this essay. His philosophical views were finalised and complete. In the ensuing decade, they would not evolve one inch. Montaigne’s purpose in this essay is straightforward. He just wants to illustrate virtuous behaviour by using three prominent historical anecdotes. Before speaking of Montaigne’s influence on French literature and cultural identity, let us pass review to those three examples. First, the widow of Ephesus. Her story was immortalised by Petronius (27-66 AD) in his “Satyricon.” Petronius tells us that, when her husband died, she felt such profound grief that she vowed to lock herself in his tomb and starve to death. Here is the link to the original article: https://johnvespasian.com/michel-de-montaignes-impact-on-french-literature-and-cultural-identity/