Discuss Michel De Montaigne`s view of human nature and the methods he uses to investigate it.

Human Nature by Montaigne

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Human Nature by Montaigne

Michel de Montaigne or simply Montaigne was an influential writer and essayist of the Renaissance in France . His works Les Essais ' are famous because he was the first one to invent the genre of essay Montaigne 's major subject in his writings was the characterization of human nature . Montaigne said : The most beautiful lives , to

my mind are those that conform to the common human pattern , with , but without miracle and without eccentricity (Of Experience ) The scope of this is to define the common human pattern ' or human nature The methods he used to investigate this will also be discussed

Montaigne was a lover of simplicity , freedom , and the natural of the world as referred to in the quote above . His mastery of Latin led him to use the Latin works of philosophy to write his remarks about the essence of human nature . Montaigne decided to use himself as a tool for the investigation of human nature . Based in his readings of classic Latin works , he started judging his own opinions against the wisdom dispensed in such works . Additional features that Montaigne examined were the human condition as well as the limits of human nature . When reading all his essays , one gets the sense that in his quest to understand human nature by using his own judgment and opinions in the light of philosophy , Montaigne evolved from a Stoic to a Sceptic , and finally an Epicurean . Notably , he was able to subscribe to all three at the same time , without any difficulty . Some philosophers appealed to Montaigne at different times in his life , corresponding to the change of his outlook on life and human nature : Cicero , Seneca , and Socrates , his most favorite philosopher of all . As a consequence , Montaigne was led by his readings to conduct a self-examination to comprehend human nature , the common human pattern , which obviously would change and mature over time . The reason why Montaigne wanted to use himself was because ancient philosophers like Aristotle inspired him . Aristotle taught Montaigne that men and women belong to the same genus and species , therefore , all individual human beings are characterized by the entire human race . Consequently , if you study one man , you have studied them all this thought is implied in the introduction to his Essays Here I want to be seen in my simple , natural , everyday fashion without striving or artifice : for it is my own self I am painting here (Montaigne , 1580 ) In Book I , the essay of Sadness ' offers a short heartfelt comment on the emotions we feel when losing a loved one in death : The force of extreme sadness inevitably stuns the whole soul , impeding her freedom of action [the soul] ) the soul lets herself go with tears and lamentations ) she seems to have struggled loose , disentangled herself...