Single Idea 23122

[catalogued under 1. Philosophy / B. History of Ideas / 4. Early European Thought]

Full Idea

The first liberal, the founding father if we have one, is the great sixteenth century French essayist Michel de Montaigne.

Gist of Idea

Montaigne was the founding father of liberalism

Source

report of Michel de Montaigne (On Cruelty [1580]) by Adam Gopnik - A Thousand Small Sanities 1

Book Reference

Gopnik,Adam: 'A Thousand Small Sanities' [riverrun 2019], p.27


A Reaction

He says this not on the basis of his politicies or achievements, but his general attitudes and values. It may be another hundred years before we can identify another obvious liberal (Locke?).