Apology for Raymond Sebond

The Apology for Raymond Sebond is an essay by Michel de Montaigne, first published in 1580. In this work, Montaigne uses a defense of the 15th-century Spanish theologian Raymond Sebond's beliefs as a pretext to explore his own skeptical views on the limitations and futility of human reason.1

Montaigne's Essays, in general, were a groundbreaking literary form that established a new genre. Written during a period of religious and political turmoil in France, Montaigne's essays often serve as intimate self-portraits, reflecting his personal experiences and observations on the human condition. His skepticism, a key theme, arises from his questioning of knowledge and his belief in the inherent weakness and uncertainty of human beings.2