Boétie

Étienne de La Boétie was a French essayist and political theorist, best known for his Discourse on Voluntary Servitude. Born in 1530, he was a child prodigy, mastering Latin and Greek at a young age. He studied law and entered judicial service, becoming a respected magistrate.

His most famous work, the Discourse on Voluntary Servitude, written around 1548 when he was only eighteen, explored the reasons why people willingly submit to tyranny. La Boétie argued that the power of rulers ultimately derives from the consent of the governed. He suggested that if people simply refused to obey, tyrants would lose their power. The essay was a radical critique of absolute monarchy and remained unpublished for many years.

La Boétie was also a close friend of the renowned essayist Michel de Montaigne. Their friendship, documented by Montaigne, was deep and intellectual. Montaigne deeply admired La Boétie's intellect and character, and the premature death of his friend profoundly affected him.

La Boétie died in 1563 at the age of 32. His ideas on liberty and obedience, particularly his analysis of voluntary servitude, have resonated through centuries, influencing political thinkers and movements advocating for resistance against oppression. His work remains a foundational text in the study of political philosophy and the nature of power.