The Montaignian Moment

Journal of the History of Ideas

Volumn 59, Issue 4, 1998, Pages 625-650

  Engster, Dan ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT SAN ANTONIO   (United States)

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[No Author keywords available]

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EID: 0042754019     PISSN: 00225037     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.2307/3653936     Document Type: Article

References (137)

1. J. G. A. Pocock, The Machiavellian Moment (Princeton, 1975).
2. The term "civic humanism" has been subjected to a great deal of criticism since Hans Baron used the term in his Crisis of the Early Italian Renaissance (Princeton, 1966). See, e.g., Albert Rabil, Jr., "The Significance of 'Civic Humanism' in the Interpretation of the Italian Renaissance," Renaissance Humanism: Foundations, Forms, and Legacy, ed. Albert Rabil, Jr., (3 vols.; Philadelphia, 1998), I, 141-74. Taking these criticisms into account, I use the term broadly to designate an externally activist but not necessarily republican approach to fortune.
3. The term "civic humanism" has been subjected to a great deal of criticism since Hans Baron used the term in his Crisis of the Early Italian Renaissance (Princeton, 1966). See, e.g., Albert Rabil, Jr., "The Significance of 'Civic Humanism' in the Interpretation of the Italian Renaissance," Renaissance Humanism: Foundations, Forms, and Legacy, ed. Albert Rabil, Jr., (3 vols.; Philadelphia, 1998), I, 141-74. Taking these criticisms into account, I use the term broadly to designate an externally activist but not necessarily republican approach to fortune.
4. Pocock, Machiavellian Moment, viii.
5. Ibid., viii, 156-218.
6. Victoria Kahn, Machiavellian Rhetoric (Princeton, 1994).
7. Ibid., 10.
8. Charles Trinkaus, In Our Image and Likeness: Humanity and Divinity in Italian Humanist Thought (2 vols.; London, 1970), I, 282-83, has criticized Baron's notion of civic humanism on similar grounds.
9. See Kahn, Rhetoric, Prudence, and Skepticism in the Renaissance (Ithaca, 1985), 115-51.
10. David Schaefer, The Political Philosophy of Montaigne (Ithaca, 1990).
11. Richard Tuck, Philosophy and Government, 1572-1651 (Cambridge, 1993), 45-64.
12. I have used The Complete Essays of Montaigne, tr. Donald Frame (Stanford, 1965). Each citation lists book number, chapter, and page number.
13. The Prince, tr. Harvey Mansfield, Jr. (Chicago, 1985), ch. 25, 98.
14. Eugenio Garin has identified this assumption as the "typical motif of the Renaissance." See his Italian Humanism, tr. Peter Munz (Westport, 1965), 61.
15. See Mario Santoro, Fortuna, ragione e prudenza nella civiltà letteraria del Cinquecento (Naples, 1966); and Quentin Skinner, Foundations of Modern Political Thought (2 vols.; Cambridge, 1978), I, 113-89.
16. See Mario Santoro, Fortuna, ragione e prudenza nella civiltà letteraria del Cinquecento (Naples, 1966); and Quentin Skinner, Foundations of Modern Political Thought (2 vols.; Cambridge, 1978), I, 113-89.
17. Discourses on Livy, tr. Harvey Mansfield, Jr. and Nathan Tarcov (Chicago, 1996), bk. 1, preface, 5-6.
18. Skinner, Foundations of Modern Political Thought, I, 131-38.
19. The Prince, ch. 18, 70.
20. Felix Gilbert, Machiavelli and Guicciardini (Princeton, 1965); Santoro, Fortuna, ragione e prudenza nella civiltà letteraria del Cinquecento; Skinner, Foundations of Modern Political Thought, I, 186-89; also Albert Ascoli, Ariosto's Bitter Harmony: Crisis and Evasion in the Italian Renaissance (Princeton, 1987).
21. Felix Gilbert, Machiavelli and Guicciardini (Princeton, 1965); Santoro, Fortuna, ragione e prudenza nella civiltà letteraria del Cinquecento; Skinner, Foundations of Modern Political Thought, I, 186-89; also Albert Ascoli, Ariosto's Bitter Harmony: Crisis and Evasion in the Italian Renaissance (Princeton, 1987).
22. Felix Gilbert, Machiavelli and Guicciardini (Princeton, 1965); Santoro, Fortuna, ragione e prudenza nella civiltà letteraria del Cinquecento; Skinner, Foundations of Modern Political Thought, I, 186-89; also Albert Ascoli, Ariosto's Bitter Harmony: Crisis and Evasion in the Italian Renaissance (Princeton, 1987).
23. Felix Gilbert, Machiavelli and Guicciardini (Princeton, 1965); Santoro, Fortuna, ragione e prudenza nella civiltà letteraria del Cinquecento; Skinner, Foundations of Modern Political Thought, I, 186-89; also Albert Ascoli, Ariosto's Bitter Harmony: Crisis and Evasion in the Italian Renaissance (Princeton, 1987).
24. Santoro, Fortuna, ragione e prudenza nella civiltà letteraria del Cinquecentro, 228-31, argues that Machiavelli grew increasingly pessimistic about human beings' ability to control fortune in his later works. See also Hana Pitkin, Fortune is a Woman (Berkeley, 1984), 143-60.
25. Santoro, Fortuna, ragione e prudenza nella civiltà letteraria del Cinquecentro, 228-31, argues that Machiavelli grew increasingly pessimistic about human beings' ability to control fortune in his later works. See also Hana Pitkin, Fortune is a Woman (Berkeley, 1984), 143-60.
26. Discourses, bk. 2, ch. 29, 197-99.
27. Francesco Guicciardini, The History of Italy, tr. Sidney Alexander (Princeton, 1969), 3-4.
28. Gilbert, Machiavelli and Guicciardini, 288-90.
29. Essays, bk. 1, ch. 26, 116; bk. 1, ch. 32, 159-61; bk. 2, ch. 12, 343; bk. 2, ch. 30, 538- 39.
30. Essays, bk. 1, ch. 26, 116; bk. 1, ch. 32, 159-61; bk. 2, ch. 12, 343; bk. 2, ch. 30, 538- 39.
31. Essays, bk. 1, ch. 26, 116; bk. 1, ch. 32, 159-61; bk. 2, ch. 12, 343; bk. 2, ch. 30, 538- 39.
32. Essays, bk. 1, ch. 26, 116; bk. 1, ch. 32, 159-61; bk. 2, ch. 12, 343; bk. 2, ch. 30, 538-39.
33. Daniel Martin, Montaigne et La Fortune (Paris, 1977), 1-5, passim, argues that he saw fortune as a cosmological symbol representing all the instability, contingency, and disorder of human and temporal affairs.
34. Essays, bk. 1, ch. 24, 90-97; bk. 1, ch. 34, 163-65; bk. I, ch. 47, 205-9.
35. Essays, bk. 1, ch. 24, 90-97; bk. 1, ch. 34, 163-65; bk. I, ch. 47, 205-9.
36. Essays, bk. 1, ch. 24, 90-97; bk. 1, ch. 34, 163-65; bk. I, ch. 47, 205-9.
37. See, e.g., Discourses, bk. 3, ch. 21, 262-64.
38. Essays, bk. 1, ch. 24, 92.
39. Essays, bk. 1, ch. 47, 205-9.
40. Kahn, Rhetoric, Prudence, and Skepticism in the Renaissance, 116-51.
41. Donald Frame, Montaigne (New York, 1965), 217-18.
42. Essays, bk. 3, ch. 8, 713.
43. Ibid., bk. 3, ch. 12, 812.
44. Essays, bk. 1, ch. 38, 172; bk. 2, ch. 1, 239-44.
45. Essays, bk. 1, ch. 38, 172; bk. 2, ch. 1, 239-44.
46. The Prince, ch. 25, 99-101; Discourses, bk. 3, ch. 9, 239-40.
47. The Prince, ch. 25, 99-101; Discourses, bk. 3, ch. 9, 239-40.
48. Essays, bk. 2, ch. 1, 239-44.
49. Ibid., bk. 2, ch. 1, 242.
50. Montaigne later added (Essays, bk. 3, ch. 8, 713).: "I will say more, that even our wisdom and deliberation for the most part follow the lead of chance. My will and my reasoning are moved now in one way, now in another, and there are many of these movements that are directed without me. My reason has accidental impulsions that change from day to day."
51. Discourses, bk. 1, preface, 5-6. See Anthony Parel, The Machiavellian Cosmos (New Haven, Conn., 1992).
52. Discourses, bk. 1, preface, 5-6. See Anthony Parel, The Machiavellian Cosmos (New Haven, Conn., 1992).
53. In his essay "Of books" (bk. 2, ch. 10, 297), Montaigne added that his Essays were more composed by fortune than by himself. "I have no other marshal but fortune to arrange my bits. As my fancies present themselves, I pile them up; now they come pressing in a crowd, now dragging single file. I want people to see my natural and ordinary pace, however off the track it is." See also bk. 2, ch. 37, 574.
54. In his essay "Of books" (bk. 2, ch. 10, 297), Montaigne added that his Essays were more composed by fortune than by himself. "I have no other marshal but fortune to arrange my bits. As my fancies present themselves, I pile them up; now they come pressing in a crowd, now dragging single file. I want people to see my natural and ordinary pace, however off the track it is." See also bk. 2, ch. 37, 574.
55. Essays, bk. 3, ch. 2, 610-11 (italics added).
56. R. A. Sayce, The Essays of Montaigne (Evanston, 1972), 256. Other writers who have interpreted Montaigne in a similar fashion include Gérald Nakam, Les Essais de Montaigne: Miroir et Proces de leur Temps (Paris, 1984), 252-55. Zachary Schiffman, "Montaigne and the Problem of Machiavellism," Journal of Medieval and Renaissance Studies, 12 (Fall, 1982), 242-44. Pierre Villey, Les Sources et l'évolution des Essais de Montaigne (Paris, 1908), II, 357-62.
57. R. A. Sayce, The Essays of Montaigne (Evanston, 1972), 256. Other writers who have interpreted Montaigne in a similar fashion include Gérald Nakam, Les Essais de Montaigne: Miroir et Proces de leur Temps (Paris, 1984), 252-55. Zachary Schiffman, "Montaigne and the Problem of Machiavellism," Journal of Medieval and Renaissance Studies, 12 (Fall, 1982), 242-44. Pierre Villey, Les Sources et l'évolution des Essais de Montaigne (Paris, 1908), II, 357-62.
58. R. A. Sayce, The Essays of Montaigne (Evanston, 1972), 256. Other writers who have interpreted Montaigne in a similar fashion include Gérald Nakam, Les Essais de Montaigne: Miroir et Proces de leur Temps (Paris, 1984), 252-55. Zachary Schiffman, "Montaigne and the Problem of Machiavellism," Journal of Medieval and Renaissance Studies, 12 (Fall, 1982), 242-44. Pierre Villey, Les Sources et l'évolution des Essais de Montaigne (Paris, 1908), II, 357-62.
59. R. A. Sayce, The Essays of Montaigne (Evanston, 1972), 256. Other writers who have interpreted Montaigne in a similar fashion include Gérald Nakam, Les Essais de Montaigne: Miroir et Proces de leur Temps (Paris, 1984), 252-55. Zachary Schiffman, "Montaigne and the Problem of Machiavellism," Journal of Medieval and Renaissance Studies, 12 (Fall, 1982), 242-44. Pierre Villey, Les Sources et l'évolution des Essais de Montaigne (Paris, 1908), II, 357-62.
60. Schaefer, The Political Philosophy of Montaigne, 347-96. See also Alexandre Nicolai, "Le Machiavélisme de Montaigne," Bulletin de la Société des Amis de Montaigne (1957- 1959), 4:11-21 , 5-6:25-47, 7:2-8, 9:18-30, and Hugo Friedrick, Montaigne, tr. Dawn Eng (Berkeley, 1991), 148-51, 184-88.
61. Schaefer, The Political Philosophy of Montaigne, 347-96. See also Alexandre Nicolai, "Le Machiavélisme de Montaigne," Bulletin de la Société des Amis de Montaigne (1957-1959), 4:11-21 , 5-6:25-47, 7:2-8, 9:18-30, and Hugo Friedrick, Montaigne, tr. Dawn Eng (Berkeley, 1991), 148-51, 184-88.
62. Schaefer, The Political Philosophy of Montaigne, 347-96. See also Alexandre Nicolai, "Le Machiavélisme de Montaigne," Bulletin de la Société des Amis de Montaigne (1957- 1959), 4:11-21 , 5-6:25-47, 7:2-8, 9:18-30, and Hugo Friedrick, Montaigne, tr. Dawn Eng (Berkeley, 1991), 148-51, 184-88.
63. Schaefer, The Political Philosophy of Montaigne, 347-96. See also Alexandre Nicolai, "Le Machiavélisme de Montaigne," Bulletin de la Société des Amis de Montaigne (1957- 1959), 4:11-21 , 5-6:25-47, 7:2-8, 9:18-30, and Hugo Friedrick, Montaigne, tr. Dawn Eng (Berkeley, 1991), 148-51, 184-88.
64. Schaefer, The Political Philosophy of Montaigne, 347-96. See also Alexandre Nicolai, "Le Machiavélisme de Montaigne," Bulletin de la Société des Amis de Montaigne (1957- 1959), 4:11-21 , 5-6:25-47, 7:2-8, 9:18-30, and Hugo Friedrick, Montaigne, tr. Dawn Eng (Berkeley, 1991), 148-51, 184-88.
65. Schaefer, The Political Philosophy of Montaigne, 347-96. See also Alexandre Nicolai, "Le Machiavélisme de Montaigne," Bulletin de la Société des Amis de Montaigne (1957- 1959), 4:11-21 , 5-6:25-47, 7:2-8, 9:18-30, and Hugo Friedrick, Montaigne, tr. Dawn Eng (Berkeley, 1991), 148-51, 184-88.
66. See Robert Collins, "Montaigne's Rejection of Reason of State in 'De l'utile et de l'honneste,'" Sixteenth Century Journal, 23 (1992), 71-94.
67. See Marcel Tetel, "Montaigne and Machiavelli: Ethics, Politics and Humanism," Rivista di letterature moderne e comparante, 29 (September, 1976), 165-81.
68. Essays, bk. 2, ch. 17, 478.
69. Ibid., bk. 2, ch. 17, 488.
70. Ibid., bk. 2, ch. 17, 497.
71. Ibid.
72. Schaefer, The Political Philosophy of Montaigne, 348.
73. Discourses, bk. 1, ch. 39, 84.
74. Essays, bk. 3, ch. 13, 815-16.
75. Essays, bk. 3, ch. 13, 819.
76. Schaefer, The Political Philosophy of Montaigne, 120-22.
77. Essays, bk. 3, ch. 13, 816.
78. Essays, bk. 2, ch. 17, 492.
79. Ibid.
80. The Prince, ch. 8, 37-38.
81. Essays, bk. 2, ch. 18, 505.
82. Essays, bk. 2, ch. 18, 491.
83. Ibid., bk. 1, ch. 23, 89; bk. 3, ch. 1, 607.
84. Ibid., bk. 1, ch. 23, 89; bk. 3, ch. 1, 607.
85. Ibid., bk. 3, ch. 12, 811.
86. See Nannerl Keohane, Philosophy and the State in France (Princeton, 1980), 103-5, and James Beaudry, "Virtue and Nature in the Essais," in Montaigne: A Collection of Essays, ed. Dikka Bermen (New York, 1995), IV, 175-86.
87. See Nannerl Keohane, Philosophy and the State in France (Princeton, 1980), 103-5, and James Beaudry, "Virtue and Nature in the Essais," in Montaigne: A Collection of Essays, ed. Dikka Bermen (New York, 1995), IV, 175-86.
88. Essays, bk. 1, ch. 26, 116.
89. Ibid., bk. 2, ch. 17, 498.
90. Ibid., bk. 3, ch. 12, 812-13.
91. Essays, bk. 3, ch. 12, 812.
92. Ibid., bk. 3, ch. 9, 769.
93. Ibid., bk. 3, ch. 13, 822.
94. Essays, bk. 2, ch. 12, 437.
95. Ibid., bk. 2, ch. 12, 357; bk. 3, ch. 12, 807.
96. Ibid., bk. 2, ch. 12, 357; bk. 3, ch. 12, 807.
97. Ibid., bk. 1, ch. 23, 77; bk. 2, ch. 12, 438.
98. Ibid., bk. 1, ch. 23, 77; bk. 2, ch. 12, 438.
99. Ibid., bk. 3, ch. 12, 803.
100. Ibid., bk. 1, ch. 31, 152-53.
101. Leo Strauss, Natural Right and History (Chicago, 1950); and Richard Tuck, Natural Right Theories (Cambridge, 1979).
102. Leo Strauss, Natural Right and History (Chicago, 1950); and Richard Tuck, Natural Right Theories (Cambridge, 1979).
103. Essays, bk. 2, ch. 17, 501; bk. 3, ch. 12, 795, 803.
104. Essays, bk. 2, ch. 17, 501; bk. 3, ch. 12, 795, 803.
105. Ibid., bk. 2, ch. 12, 367.
106. Ibid., bk. 2, ch. 12, 359; bk. 3, ch. 12, 803.
107. Ibid., bk. 2, ch. 12, 359; bk. 3, ch. 12, 803.
108. Ibid., bk. 3, ch. 12, 803.
109. Ibid., bk. 2, ch. 29, 533; bk. 3, ch. 2, 615.
110. Ibid., bk. 2, ch. 29, 533; bk. 3, ch. 2, 615.
111. Essays, bk. 3, ch. 2, 615.
112. Ibid., bk. 1, ch. 50, 220.
113. See, for example, Keohane, Philosophy and the State in France, 98-116.
114. Essays, bk. 3, ch. 1, 599-600; bk. 3, ch. 9, 756-60.
115. Essays, bk. 3, ch. 1, 599-600; bk. 3, ch. 9, 756-60.
116. Ibid., bk. 1, ch. 23, 77-90; bk. 3, ch. 9, 730-31; bk. 3, ch. 13, 815-57.
117. Ibid., bk. 1, ch. 23, 77-90; bk. 3, ch. 9, 730-31; bk. 3, ch. 13, 815-57.
118. Ibid., bk. 1, ch. 23, 77-90; bk. 3, ch. 9, 730-31; bk. 3, ch. 13, 815-57.
119. Essays, bk. 3, ch. 10, 772.
120. Ibid., bk. 3, ch. 10, 773.
121. Ibid., bk. 1, ch. 23, 86; bk. 3, ch. 1, 604; bk. 3, ch. 13, 821.
122. Ibid., bk. 1, ch. 23, 86; bk. 3, ch. 1, 604; bk. 3, ch. 13, 821.
123. Ibid., bk. 1, ch. 23, 86; bk. 3, ch. 1, 604; bk. 3, ch. 13, 821.
124. Ibid., bk. 3, ch. 10, 773.
125. Essays, bk. 3, ch. 9, 760.
126. Schaefer, Political Philosophy of Montaigne, 170-71, 371-73.
127. Essays, bk. 3, ch. 13, 821.
128. Ibid., bk. 3, ch. 13, 816.
129. Ibid., bk. 1, ch. 31, 153.
130. Ibid., bk. 2, ch. 12, 367.
131. Essays, bk. 3, ch. 10, 769.
132. Ibid., bk. 3, ch. 10, 770.
133. Essays, bk. 3, ch. 10, 770.
134. Ibid., bk. 3, ch. 10, 781.
135. Ibid., bk. 3, ch. 10, 783-84.
136. Essays, bk. 3, ch. 9, 738.
137. Keohane, Philosophy and the State in France, 120.