RENAISSANCE
HUMANISM Revival of classical
literature and learning:
defined as literary, cultural, and educational
movement based on
recovery of classical Latin, then Greek texts
(14-15th C.): e.g.
context: rise of interest in
classical Latin literature among
literate laymen, notaries (ars dictaminis = letter writing),
lawyers
= first intellectual movement
dominated by laymen, rather than clerics
new curriculum: use classical texts for
study of human life, morality
studia humanitatis: study
of things human (i.e. not divine, not natural)
grammar (Latin),
rhetoric, poetry, history, moral philosophy
compare medieval scholastic curriculum of seven liberal
arts:
trivium: grammar, rhetoric, logic (& dialectics)
quadrivium: arithmetic, astronomy, geometry, music = (natural
philosophy)
What did Renaissance Humanists learn from their
classical studies?
classical Latin literature as
moralizing, practical, this-worldly virtues
aim to teach good
conduct, responsibilities in social relationships
eg: Cicero De Officiis (On Duty); Seneca Epistles:
Stoic moral philosopher
context for pursuit and
definition of virtue is human life in this world,
not Christian context of eternal
salvation or damnation (as for Dante)
Purpose of knowledge:
scholasticism: 1) pursuit of
abstract, rational intellectual truth
about God,
creation (mankind as part of creation), Redemption
2) encyclopedic approach to knowledge sub specie eternitatis
truth is ahistorical, beyond time (under the
eye of eternity)
humanism: 1) moralizing,
practical approach to knowledge as
useful to men, to
improve human nature, inculcate human virtues
Petrarch: "It is better to
will the good than know the truth."
2) historical approach to knowledge of the classics in their own historical context
eg: Petrarch sees
Humanist careers as civil servants in
Republican context: humanist learning in service of state
Coluccio Salutati: 1) lawyer,
Florentine Chancellor (1375-1406)
skills:
formal Latin correspondence, oratorical ability (rhetoric),
panegyrics
(speech in praise of city, ruler etc.), history
2) role as humanist educator: defends curriculum
of studia humanitatis
against Dominican
clerics attack on study of classics as 'pagan' texts
3) role in war of Giangaleazzo Visconti of
Leonardo Bruni (Chancellor) rhetorical
defense of republic (Baron thesis)
In Praise of the
City of
History of the
City of
Recovery
of Greek Learning: 1453 = fall of
Marsilio Ficino (1433-1499) humanists
under patronage of Cosimo di Medici
established in Villa Careggi outside
1462: Ficino begins translation of Plato's Dialogues: crucial moment Greek revival
Giovanni Pico della Mirandola (1463-1494) Oration on the Dignity of Man
high estimate of potential of human nature
(unlike traditionally Christian view)
recovery of all ancient texts as basis for synthesis of all knowledge