On: The essays of Michel de Montaigne online

[benreesman]

Monsieur de Montaigne’s observations are highly above the average as concerns wealthy people advising everyone what to do with a nobleman’s time and resources.

As a new magistrate or nobleman it’s a decent place to start winding up with something better than a Tesla and a Substack advising people how to inherit a monopoly.

But for us plebs, it’s about as compelling as any other bunch of dandies on a tennis court.

[lukan → benreesman]

I think philosophy works when you have money, as well when you don't.

Or rather, only good philosophy works also when you don't have money and I enjoyed Montaigne a lot, when I was backpacking without money.

[benreesman → benreesman]

You want some carcinogenic French thought? May I introduce you to Julien Offray de La Mettrie.

[aubanel → benreesman]

Hard disagree. His thoughts are so rich and varied that it's harsh to classify them under "blogs for wealthy people". He speaks about death, self worth, many other things that speak to anyone.

[benreesman → aubanel]

I myself said that de Montaigne is pretty good stuff as this sort of thing goes.

But the kind of agency attached to being quasi-Royal wealthy in the mid-sixteenth century France is not terribly useful to anyone under crushing debt peonage then, nor it’s resurgent beginning comeback now.

For truly catholic stoicism there are better sources. If I want to hear someone talk about inner will from atop a mountain I’ll go all the way back to Marcus Aurelius.

It’s good to see that Randian Objectivists are diversifying out of such a shitty brand, but it’s all boomers and their bootstraps to me, and I’ve read fucking ALL of it. Twice.

[afpx → benreesman]

I’m almost done with Book 1, and so far at least 85% applies to anyone:

don't be idle, don't lie, don't make hasty decisions, build up your willpower, be courageous, be present, do what you say you will do, challenge customs (because people tend to choose custom over reason), learn through experience, be present, life is a delicate balance, and about 50 more

[benreesman → afpx]

It’s a lot of very bright folks on HN, and very well read.

But this stuff at this stage of the game is somewhere between propaganda and Stockholm’s Syndrome.

Hackers have never been paid less, or had worse job security, or been more subject to being fucked with than in decades.

Getting funding or traction or press or customers has never been more insular and nepotistic and corrupt and numb in decades.

There is a season for de Montaigne and there is a season for Thomas Paine.