“Que sçay-je?”

“What do I know?”

– Montaigne, in an Apology for Raymond Sebond

Michel Eyquem de Montaigne, Lord of Montaigne lived from February 28, 1533 through September 13, 1592.   Considered one of the significant philosophers of the French Renaissance, Montaigne is renown for his select group of essays that merged anecdotes with autobiography and provided keen insights.  His Essais have had remarkable impact on a number of philosophers and writers from Bacon to Asimov.

He was a statesman during his lifetime.  His fame today rests largely on the above referenced Essais published in 1580 and which provided a number of short studies on multiple topics inspired by his studies of the classics such as Plutarch and Lucretius.  These writings are known for their frankness and inspired by the lives and ideals of his age. One thing quite remarkable for his time is his open contempt for the religious conflicts of his era.  In reviewing his work, I find a kindred spirit to the degree that I too am not so convinced of the ability for humanity to attain true certainty on so many matters on which our conflicts revolve.

The essay that we will study today is That to Philosophise Is to Learne How to Die.  This essay spells out what is easy to observe but hard to assimilate into our lives for some of us.  I am thinking chiefly of me when I say this.

After I nearly died in a drowning incident when I was quite young for a very long time I was afraid of death.  A fear that is on its face quite absurd.  My fear was not so much that death would come.  But, I remember the very warm feeling after the struggling stopped and then a still sort of lightness accompanied by a brilliant light and nothing.. . complete nothingness.

This left me with a dread that I hope not many will laugh too loudly or long at.  I was saddened by the fact that when I die I will no longer be able to tell or show the people that I love just how very much I do love them.  Death is inevitable.  I accept that.  I dread that I leave those that I love behind when I do.  Absurd, right?

That then is the conclusion Montaigne reached.  Mortal man has an inevitable death sentence.  But this must not cause despair among us.  We must accept and ignore this reality.  Instead of pessimistically dwelling on this,  we must instead carry on with joy and happiness living life to its fullest until death comes to call us home.

To philosophize is to understand this important lesson. Thought of death must be turned into unthought.  Life is for the living.  So on with the living in joy and love and taking and giving all that life has to offer.  That is until it does not.

“It’s absolute perfection and virtually divine to know how to enjoy her being”

If only I can spend the end of my days tranquil in that assurance, then I will have, I think learned to become wise at last.

That to Philosophise Is to Learne How to Die may be read here:

http://www.bartleby.com/32/103.html

Alternatively, this classic essay may be listened to in an audiobook format here:

“Que sçay-je?”

What do any of us know better than perhaps, ourselves?