The Dissident Montaigne

This study asks and provides answers to four questions. The first two are these: What does Montaigne say which is relevant to religion, and what are the implications of what he says? They are answered by examination of and commentary on all the relevant matter from the first to the last of the Essais. Particular attention is paid to context, and in many cases complete analysis of the arguments of individual essays are provided. Only then are the last two questions considered, namely, did Montaigne intend such implications to be drawn, and what is the nature of his personal belief? The answers explain Montaigne’s status as an inspiration to generations of post-Renaissance freethinkers.