Learning how to live. Or: the roots of modern mindfulness

The clear thought unfurls in the literary essay. About spreading awareness through essay writing.

It is crucial for the essayist to be any other than what he claims to be. His literary practice aims to emancipate from the limitations of literary convention and is dedicated to the originality and exploration of thought. Robert Musil, one of the most notable essayist of the early 20th century insisted that he was “not a philosopher”, yet, the protagonist, Ulrich, in his book “the Man without Qualities” extensively reflects on “the right way to live“. But Musil was not willing to see himself as an essayist neither: “I am not even an essayist but rather a poet.”

It is probably the urge to preserve the freedom of thought, which constitutes an essay the most. The essay thus evolved from a literary form — originally introduced by Michel de Montaigne and Francis Bacon in the 16th century — to a mode of thought and a mode of life — as understood by Nietzsche and Robert Musil. Musil suggested essayism to be the modern mode of thought, characterized by intellectual curiosity, skepticism and the acceptance of uncertainty. It is for these qualities, that literary essays often became the driving force for innovative ideas and contain great epistemological value.

About the origin of essay writing.

Back in 1571, when fixed literary rules set the standard of writing, Michel de Montaigne dared to take a different approach. At the age of 38 the French nobleman retired from public life and isolated himself to write on his ‘essais’ (essays)–literary attempts within which he sought to fathom the rules of life. He stressed that “I am myself the matter of my book”. His writing became a method of self-examination, initiated by the intent to free his soul through comprehension.

Montaigne observed, questioned and exposed himself; a process of thinking through writing, which value lies in its orienting effect rather than in the finalized text. “Que sais-je?” he wrote in 1576, what do I know?

In the tradition of Montaigne, essay writing can be understood as a literary practice to learn about life. The essayist thus becomes a “thinker” who “makes himself into an arena for intellectual experience”, as Adorno declares.

About the attitudes of essay writing.

Anyone writing an essay must provide a high level of curiosity. He may address close to any subject, as long as it originates from his personal life and makes himself being the subjective holder of thought. In addition, the writer must be willed to communicate his thought. He thus ignites a process of experiencing, observing, reflecting and expressing himself, constantly oscillating between game and comprehension. Since his literary practice links back to the writers own being, it finalizes in a circle of experiential learning: of orientating oneself within life.

It is this curiosity and honesty, for which I value essay writing the most. In articulating a thought, one forces himself to understand and to structure it. Montaigne always mistrusted the certainty of knowledge. But he insisted to stress the importance of the awareness of such. The close examination thus becomes a key driver for constructing ones identity and living a mindful life.