[PREV - THE_GREAT_DEBATE] [TOP]
FULL_MONTAIGNE
March 12, 2005
Paul Graham invokes Montaigne in an THE_GREAT_DEBATE
argument *against* debate. The irony
of that is so heavy, it seems like an
intentional joke: Montaigne's most If you want the *real*
famous work is "On the Art of full Montaigne, there's
Conversation", a hymn to intellectual the "complete essays"
stimulation through argument. as translated by
Charles Cotton
But then a close reading available on-line from
of the Montaigne shows the Gutenberg project.
that he distinguishes
between "conversation" In that Charles
and mere "debating". Cotton, translation,
the title is rendered
This distinction being as "The Art of
that in debate you're Conference".
taught only how to make
the other side look bad, Possibly just a funky translation
and in conversation you (from the 1600s, after all) but
should be listening for it suggests some subtleties may
corrections of your be in play here hidden behind the
mistakes, rather than usual English translation.
trying to sweep your
errors under the rug. ("The Art of
Intercourse"?)
An overview of the structure and
themes of "Conversation":
o Introductory remarks about
the virtues of learning by
counter-example, stating These remarks may
that he is going to use his seem out of place:
own behavior as an example
of what should be avoided. What do they
have to do with
the following
o The major theme: discussion?
the importance of
receptiveness to I think the answer is that
counter-argument. both are about developing
through contention, by
embracing the contrary.
o The problem with pedants.
segues into this by making the UNINTENDED
point that they're often
terrible at reasoned debate:
they resort to bluster, insult;
they try to brow-beat with The general point is
learned quotation, etc. that we should be
receptive to truth,
not impressed by
And after returning mere authority.
to his first two themes
he goes into...
o The closing discussion
on Tacitus It may look like he's
wandered far afield,
but I think there's a
subtle thread throughout:
At this point he argues
that you should avoid
excessive faith in
your own judgement --
Just as you
He praises should be
Tacitus for open to
passing on all correction
the evidence, from others;
even when you should
Tacitus avoid fanatical
himself doubts imposition of
In general, this is a it's utility. your opinions
tremendously tight on others...
essay: it looks far
more discursive than
it is -- it sticks to This essay's main weakness
one central concern, is it's disingenous
coming at it from self-deprecation.
different angles.
In the introduction, Montaigne
claims he will try to show the
correct path by describing his own
errors, but the following essay is
obviously, indisputably Montaigne
bragging about his open-mindedness.
He's tremendously proud of his love
of argument; and his claim that he
has a great fault -- he's sometimes
Truly a great essay.... impatient with fools -- seems forced.
I've been thinking And throughout his complaints about
about inventing a pedantry, he is always at pains to
new slashdot id distinguish between the truly
to use for nothing erudite and his own poor knowledge --
but appropriate but the essay is thoroughly
quotations from drenched in references to classical
"The Art of literature.
Conversation"
Granted that we're
easily impressed these
days, but still:
PRIMARY_MONTAIGNER
Has there ever been such a
blatant example of false
modesty?
--------
[NEXT - PRIMARY_MONTAIGNER]