MONTAIGNE E O ENGAJAMENTO MODERADO: LIMITES AOS DEVERES POLÍTICOS NO LIMIAR DA MODERNIDADE

Taking the essay On the Useful and the Honest (III, 1) as an example of a work of thought, this article seeks to discuss the way in which Montaigne positions himself regarding the relations between politics and morality in the mid-16th century, repositioning the debate within alegal horizon. The aforementioned essay seems to provide us with a privileged opportunity to discern the transition between two ways of conceiving politics – one traditional and the other modern –, especially with regard to the nature and place of political duties, participation in the public sphere and values capable of sustaining human bonds in society, such as fides. Some theoretical landmarks (Cicero and Machiavelli) will be recovered to highlight how the French thinker moves in the field of discussion about morality, how he faces the problem of dissimulation, betrayal and tensions involving the public good and personal conscience. As we will see, Montaigne strives to conceive a public morality anchored in laws, which serve as criteria and limits to measure the rectitude of subjects' behavior and avoid excessive submission to political power. By following the elaboration of Montaigne's thoughts on these fronts, we will seek to highlight the originality of his position, adopting the idea of moderate engagement.