Montaigne's The Essays

     This reading is from Montaigne's The Essays.  Mortimer Adler says that spontaneous interest seems simply that of an explorer and to him nothing human is foreign or strange (99).   Adler also says this is the characteristic of Montaigne's special brand of skepticism and tolerance.  It challenges us as does the faith of St. Augustine and the devotion of Socrates to the pursuit of truth.  For those who believe that there is such a thing as TRUTH, should not fear in any way the devout pursuit for truth.    
     Adler, speaks of this end in terms of suspended judgment.  One question that Adler asks is this what kind of riding is the essay why did Montanio adopt this particular literary form he speaks of this intensely personal character ballhandler speaks about Montania's motivation in terms of leisurely speculation one can see there is more going on here in this ultimately we encounter Mantegna the skeptic page 103 
     no view is to be taken for granted simply because custom and received opinion favorite we see in this work she tools of persuasion also recognized despite Montanio's intellect. He is not a philosopher we should think of him as being in line with the modern social scientist who observes reflects and comments some questions that after opposes our import are all customs equally good 105 on page 106 ever asked this question is custom itself responsible for what we consider good or bad. 
     What gives us the opinion concerning good and evil? How does this position effect moral judgment can we say for example that a person who practices racial or religious discrimination in a society or area where such practices cost Mera customer is guilty of anything have we any ground in this beautiful condemning the communist and a communist contrary to the Nazi and about to country the hell does the view that custom determines the judgments of good and evil have any effect on the question whether accustom itself can be good or evil field greens with Montanya's view that philosophy should be studied by the young there are for good questions that Adler asked on page 408. Why should only 15 or 16 years be given over to education does not make more sense to say that a man's education is never finished except in the accidental sense of his having finish certain formal requirements is not more flossy fully understandable only to the person who has experience the full range of moral dilemmas that is the adult and for what are the plane. Will this courses that Mantegna recommends for starting one key point that Adler makes is at the whole difficulty of moral education is not learn rules and maxims but you know how to apply another question ever asked how valid is Montagne argument that good and evil depend on opinion what does this argument prove there a number of excellent insights that Adler offers in reaction to a response to Montagne you some good insights from unchaining himself finally at Erastus does the essay title didn't say anything more than that the opinion of good and evil depends in a great measure upon the opinion we have of them