NOVO MUNDO OU MUNDO NOVO? - Barbárie, Civilidade e Razão em Michel de Montaigne

Abstract

This research, of an interdisciplinary nature, aims to analyze the concepts of barbarism, civility and reason in the light of Michel de Montaigne's philosophy, establishing whenever necessary a dialogue with history and anthropology, aiming to expose the unique understanding that the thinker develops about these concepts, an understanding contained in opposition to the ideal of “civilized European”, demonstrating the relationship they have with their vision of the inhabitants of the new world. It is also intended to present the fruitfulness of his ideas, as although the French philosopher is marked by the historical context of the 16th century, his reflections were nevertheless able to survive history, showing themselves as a thought yet to be revisited in the future. in order to provide greater clarity on problems in contemporary culture. In view of this, for the research edifice to be built on firm foundations, a bibliographical study of an analytical nature was necessary, using so many primary sources – the author's work in general (The Essays, and, in particular, the essays Dos cannibals, Of ancient costumes, Of the education of Children, Of the lame, Raymond Sebond's Apology, etc.) –, as well as secondary sources, that is, research by commentators, dealing with the theme in question (Montaigne in Movement; Skepticism and Custom in Montaigne; The Self in Essays; Montaigne and the new world, among others.). From this perspective, we sought to argue that Michel de Montaigne, when dealing with the concepts of barbarism, civility and reason, through ideas demonstrated through an essayistic style, which excelled in an examination of the essayist's own “self”, bringing out this saw the “Others” and, thus, the affirmation of the different, both opposed the exacerbated defense of anthropocentrism and science of his time, and critically touched on essential issues to the problem of culture, thus exposing unusual opinions in the European environment , relating to the people of the new world, their way of life, their customs. It is assessed, in this sense, that their conceptions, such as that involving the criticism made to reason, whose primacy, according to the essays examined, had been decentralized, would be, to a certain extent, presenting and enabling a multicultural and intercultural vision about these peoples.