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In "Of Cannibals," Michel de Montaigne takes a ideological step hundreds of years through human thought to proclaim that indigenous peoples that Europeans come across in their travels and conquests are no more "barbaric" than Europeans themselves. In an often painfully direct mannner, Montaigne catalouges the reasons why European society lacks the honesty, morality, and noble nature that even a canibalistic society can attain:


Canibalism is besides the point, argues Montaigne, if a people can represent themselves with dignity, express brotherhood, and fight not for land, but for valor. The "familiar vices" of Europe are, in Montaigne's view, the greatest assault upon humanity. Without valor, the trait he most admires in the societies he studies, Europe is an inferior society convinced of their own superiority.


1. Would the European viewer be alienated by his drastic criticism? So much so that his message would be overlooked in favor of criticizing his method?

2. Are there parallels between Montaigne's argument and arguments put forth by the American left throughout the twentieth century? In terms of romanticizing other cultures?

3. If Montaigne is so critical of European society, why does he draw so heavily upon Western literary traditions to bolster his argument? Does this discredit it?

4. Why is valor so important to Montaigne? Why does he think a good society is characterized by it?

5. Are Montaigne's observations and reflections weakened by not having specific solutions?


Text (1877 edition: Translated by Charles Cotton. Edited by William Carew Hazilitt.)

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20 September 2007