The Greatest 16th Century French Philosophers

This ranking is based on an algorithm that combines various factors, including the votes of our users and search trends on the internet.

Michel de Montaigne

(One of the Most Significant Philosophers of the French Renaissance)

Birthdate: February 8, 1533

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Château de Montaigne, France

Died: September 3, 1592

French philosopher Michel de Montaigne was a significant figure of the French Renaissance in the 16th century. He is credited for popularizing the essay as a literary genre. His massive collection of essays was published in the volume Essais. His work had a direct influence on Western writers, including René Descartes, Francis Bacon, Blaise Pascal, and Voltaire.

Jean Bodin

(Philosopher)

Birthdate: 1530 AD

Birthplace: Angers, France

Died: 1596 AD

Pierre Gassendi

(Philosopher, Mathematician, Astronomer, Professor, Astrologer)

Birthdate: January 22, 1592

Sun Sign: Aquarius

Birthplace: Champtercier

Died: October 24, 1655

French Catholic priest and astronomer Pierre Gassendi is remembered for his efforts to reconcile atomism with Christian ideals and for his anti-Aristotelianism. His studies included research on Epicurean philosophy. Apart from observing the transit of Mercury, he also studied the speed of sound and horizontal momentum.

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16th Century

Marin Mersenne

(French Polymath Active in the 1600s)