The word essay comes from the French infinitive verb essayer, meaning “to try” or “to attempt.” In fact, when the word was first borrowed into the English language, as essay, it served as a verb, with the same meaning as the French original, and as a noun, meaning “an attempt” or “a trial.” The great French philosopher Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) titled his voluminous collection of observations on himself and the world around him Essais because he considered them attempts or trials at understanding. So, the “essay” is the perfect vehicle for doing philosophy. It is a trial or attempt to understand. The kinds of essay assignments with which you are likely to be tasked in a philosophy class include personal essays, and essays of assertion, affirmation, or refutation.
OTHER CATEGORIZATIONS OF PHILOSOPHICAL WRITING
