An Apology for Raymond SebondAn Apology for Raymond Sebond is widely regarded as the greatest of Montaigne's essays: a supremely eloquent expression of Christian scepticism. An empassioned defence of Sebond's fifteenth-century treatise on natural theology, it was inspired by the deep crisis of personal melancholy that followed the death of Montaigne's own father in 1568, and explores contemporary Christianity in prose that is witty and frequently damning. As he searches for the true meaning of faith, Montaigne is heavily critical of the arrogant tendency of mankind to create God in its own image, and offers his personal reflections on the true role of man, the need to eschew personal arrogance, and the vital importance of faith if we are to understand our place in the universe. Wise, perceptive and remarkably informed, this is one of the true masterpieces of the essay form. |
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Acad accept Amyot ancient anima animals Apology appear arguments Aristotle assay atque attribute authority beasts beauty believe body Book born Christian Cicero cited City of God colour creatures death Democritus deorum Diogenes Laertius divine doctrine doubt Epicureans Epicurus Erasmus Essays eternal everything eyes faculties faith false father favour Ficino give God's gods heaven holy honour human reason Hypotyposes ibid ignorance immortal judge judgement Justus Lipsius knowledge Lambin Latin laws learning lives Lucretius Lucullus Marie de Gournay matter means mind Montaigne Montaigne's mortal Natural Theology never omnia opinions ourselves pain passions philosophers Plato pleasure Pliny Plutarch Protagoras Pyrrhonism quae quam quod Rabelais Raymond Sebond religion Renaissance scepticism Seneca senses Sextus Empiricus Socrates soul St Augustine Stoic teaching Thales things thought Timaeus translation true truth Tusc understand vanity weakness wisdom words