Reflections on truth and lies in Montaigne’s Essays

translation and provocations to revise our current vision of the world

Abstract

At the end of the 16th century, Michel Eyquem de Montaigne gave us his famous Essays. Among the many themes addressed by the author, we chose his reflections on truth and lies in the first essay, in Book III, to start a discussion that we illustrate with a translation of excerpts selected in the text in modern French proposed by Guy of Pernon in 2008. Through the reading of these excerpts (never translated into Brazilian Portuguese) one may access Montaigne’s rich thoughts, fully in line with the historical-social context of his time. However, readers may also establish relations with the current situation of the world.