MONTAIGNE - INFLUENCES

<BODY> <CENTER><FONT SIZE=5><B><FONT SIZE=6>MONTAIGNE</FONT><BR> THE SCEPTIC</B></FONT></CENTER><P> <FONT SIZE=4><B>Influences</B></FONT><P> That Montaigne read widely is indicated by the great number of quotes from classics included in his essays (always in the original Latin and Greek). He expresses a preference for philosophers who find the human state ridiculous, and a particular preference for <A HREF="../08/08f01.html" TARGET="_top">Diogenes</A> and <A HREF="../t06/t06f08.html" TARGET="_top">Democritus</A>.<P> <BLOCKQUOTE>"Democritus and <A HREF="../02/02f01.html" TARGET="_top">Heracleitus</A> were two philosophers, of whom the first, finding the human state vain and ridiculous, never appeared in public except with a mocking and ribald expression. Heracleitus, on the other hand, felt pity and compassion for this state of ours, so his expression was always melancholy and his eyes full of tears... I prefer the first humour, not because it is pleasanter to laugh than to weep, but because it expresses more contempt and is more condemnatory of us than the other. I do not think we can ever be despised as much as we deserve. Wailing and commiseration imply some valuation of the object bewailed; what we mock, we consider worthless... Diogenes valued us so little that contact with us could neither disturb nor affect him; he gave up our company, not out of fear, but of contempt for our society. He thought us incapable of doing either good or harm."<P> ("On Democritus and Heracleitus" 1.50)</BLOCKQUOTE> <FONT SIZE=4><B>LEGACY - THE ESSAY</B></FONT><BR> Montaigne's legacy is basically the essay form. This was a form of writing that was adopted and adapted by the English scholar, <A HREF="../t06/t06f05.html" TARGET="_top">Bacon</A>. Like those of Montaigne, Bacon's essays are full of quotes from classical writers but express his own original thoughts, and in this they resemble their model. Each is a brief and opinionated discussion of a chosen topic. What is lacking in Bacon's "Essays" is the personal analysis so important in Montaigne. This is more than a matter of style. It reflects a major difference in his philosophical outlook which was in stark contrast to Montaigne's scepticism and denial of man as the peak of nature's creation.<P> Bacon had an overwhelming faith in man's capacity to attain "pure and uncorrupted natural knowledge". All that was needed was the effort and proper methodology as outlined in his "Great Instauration". Through induction, general laws and principles could be derived from a series of particular instances. The only impediment was what he termed "idols and false notions". For Bacon, knowledge was not only attainable; knowledge was synonymous with power. His averred aim was to restore man's "dominion over the universe". <BR clear=left><BR> <HR width=100%> <A HREF="http://www.creatorix.com.au"><IMG SRC="../creatorix.gif" WIDTH="85" HEIGHT="40" BORDER="0" ALT="Creatorix" align=right></A> </BODY>