Spartan Kings and Statesmen in Montaigne's 'Essais', a book by Maria Papadopoulos

Spartan Kings and Statesmen in Montaigne's Essais Sparta, a city-state of philosophers Maria Papadopoulos

Éditions Méduse d’Or Méduse d’Or S.A.R.L 2 Bis Avenue Durante, 06000 Nice, France info@meduse-d-or.fr www.meduse-d-or.fr

Synopsis and Info

In his Essais, Michel Eyquem de Montaigne (1533-1592), father of modern scepticism and fervent supporter of the ‘philosophy of praxis’, seems to be the rst modern thinker in the footsteps of Plato to recognize the existence of Spartan philosopher-kings and philosopher-statesmen. But Montaigne goes further: he sees Sparta as a city-state of philosopher-citizens, and he distinguishes between the Spartans’ philosophical virtue and their military valour: true courage is the work of prudence – a moral and an intellectual virtue -, and of wisdom, which is recognized and proved by its ‘practice’ through living examples, experiences in everyday religious, moral, social, and civic life, rational justi cation and moral standing of interlinked choices on virtue and evil, happiness and sadness, joy and pain, life and death.

There is a dialectical relationship between theory and praxis, words and deeds, arts and arms. The same dialectical approach is taken by Montaigne whose ‘valiant philosophy’ has a particular purpose: to teach not to fear death. In these circumstances self-knowledge (or wisdom) takes the double signi cance of an intellectual investigation, and at the same time a training that brings victory not over enemies in the battle eld but over time and death.

Broché (Paperback) ISBN-13: 978-290040-900-8 EAN13: 9782900409008 Édition: Première (First) Éditeur: Méduse d’Or S.A.R.L. Date de publication: décembre 2018 Langue: anglaise (English) Pages: 112 17,80 € TTC dessin de la couverture du livre : Méduse d’Or S.A.R.L.

The Spartan Kings and Statesmen in Montaigne's Essais: Sparta, a city-state of philosophers, o ers 7 chapters, which provide an innovative and insightful analysis of Montaigne’s observations to ancient Sparta’s philosophical virtues through the lives of its kings and statesmen. Chapter 1 undertakes an analysis of Lycurgus’ contribution to the “philosophy of praxis” which is deeply infused in the Spartan life. Chapter 2 presents Montaigne’s acknowledgement of Agesilaus’ excellence, which constituted the ethos of the Essais and Chapter 3 o ers an analysis of Agesilaus’ life from Corneille’s point of view. Chapter 4 focuses on the analysis of Montaigne’s dialectical approach to the question of suicide, and Chapter 5 discusses the notion of ‘virtue’ and its purpose within Montaigne’s concept of ‘valiant philosophy’. Pichat’s Leonidas and the Romantic Era of revolutionary fervour derived from the Greek uprising is the subject for Chapter 6. Chapter 7 o ers an examination of two aphorisms by Chilon “know thyself” and “nothing in excess” which had a great impact in Montaigne’s thought. Finally the Appendix o ers an appraisal of Bernard Le Bovier de Fontenelle’s sympathy towards the elders in the ancient Sparta.

Each chapter constitutes years of research published as peer-reviewed articles that were rst appeared at Σparta: Journal of Ancient Spartan and Greek History these articles have been considerably revised by the author to be presented in this publication with important and insightful additions. In addition to the reader’s interest on Montaigne’s Essais, Pichat’s play Leonidas, and Bernard Le Bovier de Fontenelle’s poetic compassion towards the Spartan elderly, this book o ers an innovative analytical approach and an important subject of analysis that could be of interest to students and researchers, as well as to any reader fascinated by ancient Sparta.

Contents review

From the same author

Socrate chez Montaigne

Markoulakis Publications, 2011 1st edition, ISBN: 9780955747434.

The author

Méduse d’Or est une Maison d'Édition et Librairie indépendante située à Nice, France. MÉDUSE D'OR est dédiée à la publication et à la vente d’ouvrages et revues universitaires.

Méduse d’Or o re également une large gamme de services pour les auteurs d'ouvrages universitaires et littéraires, qui souhaitent traduire et/ou améliorer leurs ouvrages avant leur publication en trois langues: français, anglais et grec.

Maria PAPADOPOULOS is a Professor Emeritus, living and working in the France. She taught French at the University of Athens and Franco-Hellenic schools established in Greece, and she spent twenty years as an o cial translator at the Ministry of Foreign A airs of the Hellenic Republic. She holds degrees in Greek and French Philology and Philosophy. In her capacity as a researcher within the Academy of Athens, she contributed to the development of the Atlas Linguarum Europae (ALE ), a research program of the International Academic Union (Nijmegen – The Netherlands). Member of the Société des Amis de Montaigne (France), of the Hellenic Society for Philosophical Studies (Greece), the Hellenic Society for Philosophy (Greece), the International Federation of French Teachers (IPPF) and the Association des Professeurs de Français de Formation Universitaire en Grèce (APF FU) (Greece). She has written several books, philosophical and educational. A signi cant portion of her work is devoted to research and publishing and the communication of her results at conferences.

Essais Philosphiques sur l'Humain Markoulakis Publications, 2010 2nd edition, ISBN: 9780955747427.

Éditions Méduse d’Or Méduse d’Or S.A.R.L 2 Bis Avenue Durante, 06000 Nice, France info@meduse-d-or.fr www.meduse-d-or.fr