What Happened to Civility: The Promise and Failure of Montaigne's Modern Project

Ann Hartle's book explores the origins of the modern project and the Essays of Michel de Montaigne to discuss why civility is failing in our own time. She traces the roots of cultural divisions back to the Reformation and Montaigne's Essays, arguing that civility is a human, philosophical invention that fails due to its nature. She concludes that sacred tradition is essential for civility and that nonpoliticized, nonideological, free institutions should be supported to protect and maintain the social bond. The book is for readers concerned about the deterioration of civility, philosophers, political scientists, and scholars of Montaigne's Essays.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 190 pages
Publication date: 21 June 2022
Publisher: University of Notre Dame Press

Ann Hartle's book "What Happened to Civility?" explores the origins of the modern project and the Essays of Michel de Montaigne to discuss why civility is failing in our own time. Hartle argues that civility is a human, philosophical invention and that it fails precisely because it is a human, philosophical invention. She traces the roots of cultural divisions in our postmodern, post-Christian world back to the Reformation and Montaigne's Essays. Montaigne's philosophical project of drawing on ancient philosophy and Christianity to create a new social bond to reform the mores of his culture is perhaps the first act of self-conscious civility. Hartle concludes with a defense of the central importance of sacred tradition for civility and the need to protect and maintain that social bond by supporting nonpoliticized, nonideological, free institutions, including and especially universities and churches. The book is written for readers concerned about the deterioration of civility in our public life and the defense of freedom of religion, as well as philosophers, political scientists, and scholars working on Montaigne's Essays.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780268202330