Language Markers of Idea Literature in Philosophical Reflexive Paradigm: A Case Study of Michel de Montaigne's “Essais”

This study investigates language markers of idea literature within a philosophical reflexive paradigm using the material from Michel de Montaigne’s “ Essais ”. The relevance of this research lies in formalizing criteria for identifying texts belonging to “idea literature” by examining linguistic means that reflect their reflective nature and thesis-driven argumentative structure. Employing a linguoaxiological approach, content analysis was conducted to identify verbalizations of ontological concepts, arguments, and persuasive techniques. Data were extracted from the online corpus MonLOE, which provides access to digital manuscripts of the 1588 edition of “ Essais ”, enabling automated search and analysis of linguistic units. The term essema , defined as an evaluative construction expressing subjective axiological truths, is introduced. It is demonstrated how key essemas function to subjectivize meanings of core ontological concepts such as DEATH ( mort ), MAN ( homme ), REASON ( raison ), NATURE ( nature ), KNOWLEDGE ( savoir ), WORLD ( monde ), CUSTOM ( usage ), VIRTUE ( vertu ), TRUTH ( vérité ). Through detailed examination of textual modality features characteristic of essays as a reflexive genre — such as aphoristic expression, exemplification, intertextuality, and appeals to authority— the study highlights effective rhetorical strategies employed in Montaigne’s work. The novelty of this investigation resides in uncovering and systematizing linguistic mechanisms underlying conceptualization processes in philosophical essays across diachronic dimensions.