Cultural Relativism in Montaigne's Essays: A Critique of Conquest

Extract

[...] For example, we know that the Greeks called 'barbarians' all those who did not speak Greek. Thus, we see that the Romans can be described as barbarians, although they are a very organized people. It is rather the Europeans who could be presented as wild according to Montaigne: Excerpt 2 Barbarism is synonymous with a complete absence of civilization. However, when we are faced with a difference that is too great, we can somehow confuse the 'exoticism' of these practices with a complete absence of civilization, of customs. [...]

[...] Thus, the object of our study will be to see in what way the two chapters 'Of the Roman Censors' and 'Of Cannibals' are an occasion for us to be incited to make use of cultural relativism, at the same time as the philosopher criticizes the spirit of conquest. I - Cultural Relativism Montaigne criticizes the way each individual can be centered on themselves. Each person imagines that what they live is the only worthy model. This was even more true in Montaigne's time since the portion of a country's population that could travel was very small. [...]

[...] Montaigne thus applies himself to denounce the ferocity of the conquest. At the antipodes of a profitable and constructive encounter between two different civilizations that could learn from each other, it is the destruction of one by the other that takes place. The Europeans seek to colonize the New World under the pretext of a supposed intellectual and cultural superiority. Montaigne also denounces the perfidy and cunning, the hypocrisy that the Spanish were capable of: Excerpt 4 The King of Castile is presented as the greatest prince of the habitable earth, a hyperbole that demonstrates the pretension and arrogance of the Spanish. [...]

[...] By showing openness of mind, we will realize that we must not confuse different civilizations with the absence of civilization, this is the very definition of cultural relativism, which will later inspire Montesquieu in the Persian Letters or even the anthropologist Claude Lévi-Strauss who will make us reflect on the concept of barbarism The critical philosopher also criticizes the spirit of conquest of the Europeans, which is based on their claimed cultural and intellectual superiority over the New World, wanting to impose their beliefs, their religions. In truth, they only want to take advantage of these lands to the detriment of the peoples who live there. This is reminiscent of the reflection on the interference of certain nations concerning other nations today. Montaigne, although writing several centuries ago, laid the groundwork for a philosophical reflection that spans the centuries and still finds astonishing resonances today. [...]

[...] II- The Critique of Conquest Montaigne explains in the chapter 'Of Coaches' how the Europeans sought to impose their views on the Native Americans and participated in their massacre: Excerpt 3 Montaigne explains in this passage how the pursuit of gain contributed to the destruction of this beautiful region of the world. The passage is very strong from a stylistic point of view. It begins with a rhetorical question, followed by the repetition of the grammatical structure 'so many . which contributes to rendering the intensity of the massacre in question. Hyperbole allows it to account for the intensity of the massacre. [...]