Search

In this paper an analysis is made of one of the essays, "Of Cannibals", written by Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) in the Renaissance period. The document's purpose is to describe, through reflective analysis, the contributions that this author gives to the so-called cultural relativism from the historical context of the 16th century. Given the time, the essay is considered "avant-garde" given the approach and reflection made by the author approaching what later in anthropology would be known as cultural relativism at a time when European culture was considered better than the rest of cultures in the world. By comparing the practices that pe- Columbians do, related to cannibalism, with those that Europeans do, the author realizes that "we" should think if our practices are really better than those of "others" -the Amerindians -. However, to this day, Michel de Montaigne's ideas are still present in a world where Human Rights and cultural relativism are debated. Universalism vs. Relativism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]