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Michel Onfray
39quotes
Michel Onfray: A Philosopher of Freedom and Inquiry
Full Name and Common Aliases
Michel Onfray is a French philosopher, writer, and professor. He is also known as M. O. among his fans.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on January 2, 1959, Michel Onfray is still an active figure in the world of philosophy.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Onfray is a French citizen by birth and has made a name for himself as a philosopher, writer, and professor. He teaches at several universities, including the University of Corsica.
Early Life and Background
Growing up in the picturesque town of Argenton-les-Vallées in Normandy, France, Onfray was exposed to a rich cultural heritage from an early age. His interest in philosophy and literature began at home with his parents, who encouraged him to explore the world of ideas. As a young man, he developed a passion for existentialism and phenomenology, which would later become the foundation of his philosophical work.
Major Accomplishments
Onfray's most significant contributions lie in his critique of traditional philosophy and his advocacy for a more inclusive and liberated intellectual space. He is known for promoting atheistic humanism and challenging the dominance of dogmatic thinking within academia. As an outspoken critic of Western civilization, he has sparked controversy with his uncompromising views on politics, morality, and culture.
Notable Works or Actions
Some of Onfray's notable works include:
"Tractatus Politicus: An Atheist Manifesto for a 21st-Century Democracy" (2008)
"The Heroic Life" (1990)
* "The Future of the Enlightenment" (2015)
His work has been translated into numerous languages and has gained a significant following worldwide.
Impact and Legacy
Onfray's ideas have had a profound impact on contemporary philosophy, influencing new generations of thinkers and intellectuals. His commitment to promoting critical thinking and challenging established power structures has inspired many to reevaluate their assumptions about the world. As a result, he has become a leading figure in the development of modern thought.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Michel Onfray's remarkable career as a philosopher, writer, and professor has cemented his place in history. His unwavering dedication to intellectual freedom and his willingness to challenge conventional wisdom have made him an invaluable source of inspiration for those seeking to question the status quo.
Onfray's quotes and writings are widely referenced because they offer insights into the human condition, encouraging readers to engage with the world on their own terms. By embracing a philosophy that prioritizes individual autonomy and critical inquiry, he has created a rich legacy that will continue to inspire future generations of thinkers, writers, and philosophers.
Through his groundbreaking work, Michel Onfray reminds us of the power of ideas to shape our understanding of ourselves and the world around us. His unwavering commitment to intellectual freedom serves as a beacon for anyone seeking to challenge conventional wisdom and create meaningful change in their lives.
Quotes by Michel Onfray
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I do not despise believers. I find them neither ridiculous nor pathetic, but I lose all hope when I see that they prefer the comforting fairy tales of children to the cruel hard facts of adults. Better the faith that brings peace of mind than the rationality that brings worry – even at the price of perpetual mental infantilism. What a demonstration of metaphysical sleight of hand – and what a monstrous price!
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Every theocracy is a denial of democracy. Even better: the smallest hint of theocracy neutralizes the very essence of democracy.
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I am a sworn atheist and therefore from my point of view the Talmud or the Koran don’t constitute works of political philosophy but rather writings that stand in utter contradiction to concepts like logic, freedom, feminism, secularism, brotherhood – which are my ideals.
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What can a philosopher show for himself? His life. If someone writes a book, but it is not accompanied by a philosophical life, it is not worth our time. Wisdom is measured in details: it is found in what one says and doesn’t say, what one does and doesn’t do, what one thinks and doesn’t think.
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I discovered philosophy in my youth when I read wildly, and thus I was exposed to the world of ideas.
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I persist in preferring philosophers to rabbis priests imams ayatollahs and mullahs. Rather than trust their theological hocus-pocus I prefer to draw on alternatives to the dominant philosophical historiography: the laughers materialists radicals cynics hedonists atheists sensualists voluptuaries. They know that there is only one world and that promotion of an afterlife deprives us of the enjoyment and benefit of the only one there is. A genuinely deadly sin.
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I found it amazing people can think that art must be connected to religion. Religion may give art themes, but there would still be art without religion. Bach is not proof that art exists.
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We are fashioned not by our genes, but by our environment - by the family and socio-historic conditions in which we evolve.
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