Introduction to Montaigne (vs Populists)
Michel de Montaigne, author of the Essays, On Cannibals, and the Apology for Raymond Sebond, is one of the most important thinkers of the early modern period, the Renaissance, and the enlightenment birth of modernity. I look at his thought, particularly the scepticism he inherited from Prryhonism – Prryho of Ellis and Sextus Empiricus – and how it can be used rhetorically in defense of populists. I adopt Jan Werner-Muller’s definition of populism, especially his anti-pluralism, to argue that Montaigne would have been sceptical of people’s faith in powerful figures and a defender of pluralism that protects against the misuse of power. Then & Now is FAN-FUNDED! Support me on Patreon and pledge as little as $1 per video: http://patreon.com/user?u=3517018 Or send me a one-off tip of any amount and help me make more videos: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=JJ76W4CZ2A8J2 Buy on Amazon through this link to support the channel: https://amzn.to/2ykJe6L Follow me on: Facebook: http://fb.me/thethenandnow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thethenandnow/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/lewlewwaller Sources: Ullrich Langer (ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Montaigne Michel de Montaigne, Essays Jan-Werner Muller, What is Populism? Credits: Stock footage provided by Videvo, downloaded from https://www.videvo.net Montaigne Estate - https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/36/Ch%C3%A2teau_de_Montaigne.jpg Tim Gage [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)] Jan Werner Muller image - https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/38/Roemerberggespraeche-2013-10-jan-werner-mueller-ffm-446.jpg Dontworry [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)] Orban image - https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2f/Vladimir_Putin%2C_Viktor_Orb%C3%A1n_%28Hungary%2C_February_2015%29_03.jpeg Kremlin.ru [CC BY 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)] Grillo image - https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/24/Beppe_Grillo_crop.jpg See page for author [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)]
