ANTIQUITY AND THE RENAISSANCE

Antiquity and the Renaissance

Antiquity and the Renaissance

Introduction

Michel de Montaigne's book titled, Essays and Plato's texts titled, The Phaedo, The Apology, and The Symposium talk about the soul of man, how it is divided, is vulnerable to contradiction and unreason. Montaigne's Essays is book which is the reflection on life, and he teaches us how to live life. These essays are important because they came at a time when this writing was required i.e. during the French Revolution. This paper will analyze the perspectives of both the writers the similarities and differences of the texts.

Discussion

Montaigne's Essays

Montaigne's Essays is a reflection on how people should lead their life. It shows the importance of life and people should make the most of it by leading it in the right way and by keeping a balance between the world and religion. He has described the man in an unusual way and says that volatility of human nature and variety are the two vital features of human beings. He does not like violence (which is why he wrote during the French Revolution). He was a person who strongly believed in God and was a great supporter of humanism.

His way of presenting self coherence is different i.e. he does not support the conquering of a new world. He says that this world is a good place to live in and people should stop violence and make sure that no one is hurt. He favored marriage but discouraged romantic love; because he says that it damages freedom. His view for education is that knowledge that is accepted without any criticism should be promoted (Montaigne & Screec, 1993).

In the first volume of "experiments" became the first book, which includes a reflection of the wisest men of the Renaissance, Michel Montaigne states that there are so many different ways you can achieve the same, about grief, about the fact that our intentions are judges of our actions, of idleness, of liars and much more. The most common way to soften the hearts of those we have offended, when, with vengeance in hand, they are important to them thank you, is to be moved by pity and submission to pity. However, the bravery and steadfastness, means everything to the contrary, has sometimes served the same purpose. “For (Montaigne) slowly opening the way to wisdom and a spirit of moderation which compensated for the excess and fanaticism that dominated the France of his time” (Montaigne & Screec, 1993).

Little tricks used by Montaigne in the phrase: “the ability to enjoy life is hampered by two major weaknesses: the lack of control of emotions and the tendency to pay little attention to the present. If you could fix these two things most would eventually solved problems alone, "but this is difficult and we must resort to tricks:" Are you really ready to face death? Imagine that this is the last moment of your existence. How do you feel? Do you regret anything? Are there things you wish you had done ...