Henry de Montaigne and the Levi Milpowa's Inaugural Speech: Inaugural Speech of the of France

Author: Henry de Montherlant
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: The collection of speeches by the French Academics presented to readers includes the inaugural addresses of over ten French Academics at the ceremonies of their induction into the French Academy or the Collège de France. These Academics specialize in diverse fields, including philosophy (Aron), history (Duby, Braudel), literature (Montherlant, Valéry, Yourcenar), theater (Ionesco), anthropology (Dumézil), and biological sciences (Roche). Respected for their brilliant achievements and colorful works in their respective eras, their names have been etched in history with brilliance. One of the purposes of compiling this book is to allow readers to gain insight into the spiritual demeanor of these intellectual elites, appreciating and savoring the profound sentiments deep within their souls. As everyone knows, the inaugural speeches of the Collège de France Academics (such as Duby) are later widely recognized as academic masterpieces, such as Merleau-Ponty's Le Préambule à la philosophie, Foucault's The Order of Discourse, and the one included in this collection, Medieval Society. This is because the tradition of the Collège de France is that teachers must always speak of what they are currently thinking and researching, rather than what has already been said by others. Such speeches truly belong to the "frontier of academia."
At the French Academy, the welcoming speeches of newly inducted members do not focus on themselves but instead express deep respect and sincerity in detailing and analyzing the works and thoughts of their predecessors, while their own academic achievements are introduced by sitting members in response. We can see that both the speaker and the respondent exhibit sincere and grateful attitudes toward the subject. What is even more impressive is how thoroughly the newly inducted members are familiar with their predecessors—both as individuals and in their writings—and how deeply they understand their thoughts and words. It is particularly noteworthy that some newly inducted Academics, whose reputation far surpasses that of their predecessors, remain so composed in their self-presentation, humbly respecting the past while maintaining objective analysis—a truly admirable and inspiring trait.
The vitality of a nation, a people, or even a culture, its ability to remain healthy and sustainable, and its prospects for a bright future—all depend, in part, on how it treats its predecessors and understands its traditions. Therefore, different nations, even those with equally long traditions, may produce vastly different outcomes due to differing attitudes toward this issue. If we patiently read these speeches by the Academics, we will gain a deeper understanding of this point and also develop a more rational perspective on why vibrant intellectual activity often occurs in France in the 20th century.