Compassione e linguaggio nelle riflessioni di Montaigne sugli animali

The study presents Montaigne’s considerations about the status of non-human animals. In his Essais the French philosopher describes compassion as the capability to pay attention to the claims for justice of weaker beings, showing how cruelty derives from the refusal or from the incapacity to listen...

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Main Author: Gianfranco Mormino
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Milano University Press 2012-07-01
Series:Itinera
Online Access:https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/itinera/article/view/2340
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author Gianfranco Mormino
author_facet Gianfranco Mormino
author_sort Gianfranco Mormino
collection DOAJ
description The study presents Montaigne’s considerations about the status of non-human animals. In his Essais the French philosopher describes compassion as the capability to pay attention to the claims for justice of weaker beings, showing how cruelty derives from the refusal or from the incapacity to listen to the voice of the “Other”; Montaigne’s fundamental thesis, according to which language is the most important vehicle of any correct ethical relationship, is thus confirmed. Empathy is not a “classical” virtue, grounded on fortitude, but rises, instead, from a weakness, which acquires a positive value inasmuch as it poses us on the same level of all other creatures. It has the quality of being grounded on the personal experience of the negativity of pain, which we share with all living beings, and is therefore incontrovertible.
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spelling doaj.art-ef3b7daf20004587a6674c2b56a528312023-09-02T22:47:29ZengMilano University PressItinera2039-92512012-07-01410.13130/2039-9251/2340Compassione e linguaggio nelle riflessioni di Montaigne sugli animaliGianfranco Mormino0Università degli Studi di MilanoThe study presents Montaigne’s considerations about the status of non-human animals. In his Essais the French philosopher describes compassion as the capability to pay attention to the claims for justice of weaker beings, showing how cruelty derives from the refusal or from the incapacity to listen to the voice of the “Other”; Montaigne’s fundamental thesis, according to which language is the most important vehicle of any correct ethical relationship, is thus confirmed. Empathy is not a “classical” virtue, grounded on fortitude, but rises, instead, from a weakness, which acquires a positive value inasmuch as it poses us on the same level of all other creatures. It has the quality of being grounded on the personal experience of the negativity of pain, which we share with all living beings, and is therefore incontrovertible.https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/itinera/article/view/2340
spellingShingle Gianfranco Mormino
Compassione e linguaggio nelle riflessioni di Montaigne sugli animali
Itinera
title Compassione e linguaggio nelle riflessioni di Montaigne sugli animali
title_full Compassione e linguaggio nelle riflessioni di Montaigne sugli animali
title_fullStr Compassione e linguaggio nelle riflessioni di Montaigne sugli animali
title_full_unstemmed Compassione e linguaggio nelle riflessioni di Montaigne sugli animali
title_short Compassione e linguaggio nelle riflessioni di Montaigne sugli animali
title_sort compassione e linguaggio nelle riflessioni di montaigne sugli animali
url https://riviste.unimi.it/index.php/itinera/article/view/2340
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