Our topic last class was on Montaigne, the guy who invented the genre of the essay. After losing a close friend of 4 years, Montaigne opted out of having any close relationships with anyone and did not even consider his wife a companion, instead he made friends out of his essays. "The Defense of Raymond Seybond," is one of his most well known writings. Margaret, a princess friend of Montaigne asked him to write this essay so she could use Seybond to defend Catholicism against those that were rejecting it in her court. He wrote some average defenses of Catholicism but he personally could not say he believed it. He instead answered the princess's questions more broadly. He claimed that we have religion because "we happen to have been born in a country where it was in practice,... we regard its antiquity or the authority of the men who have maintained it, [and]... we fear the threats it fastens on unbelievers."Montaigne did not want to join the argument over philosophy and religion, he simply wanted to escape it through Skepticism. He asked, "What good can we suppose it did Varro and Aristotle to know so many things?" Just because they seem to have a lot of wisdom or knowledge on a certain topic did it prevent them from human discomforts?
I thought that was really interesting on the fact that he opted outta close relationships. The thought of not really even treating his wife as a close companion was very bizzare to me. I liked the talk we had outside, I felt like everyone actually had a little to say abouth the section we read.
ReplyDeleteQ1: Was Spinoza known as an atheists?
ReplyDeleteYes
Q2: Why was Spinoza excommunicated?
Because he believed that there was no immortal human soul, that jews were not God's chosen people, and that the torah was not literally the word of god.
I agree that it was weird about him not having much to do with his wife, but I think that the reason was that he couldn't communicate with her on the level that he could with his friend, and then later with his two students.
ReplyDeleteFact Question: What were the two things that Spinoza said in his book would eliminate superstition?
A: If the world was orderly, or if they were always lucky.
Discussion Question: Do you believe Spinoza should have been excommunicated?
Essays are a great way to organize thoughts and arguments. I don't think you should put essays above your spouse, though.
ReplyDeleteFact: which religious sect was Spinoza banned from?
A: Judeaism
Discussion: Spinoza plaited that God existed, but was abstract and impersonal. Do you agree with this? Why?
I wonder if he was gay and his "friend" of four years wasn't really more then a friend. I am not saying he didn't love his wife then, but this would explain the stress in the relationship, and his fear of being close with her.
ReplyDelete