Humanism Flashcards
What is Renaissance Humanism?
Key Point: Renaissance Humanism was an intellectual movement that emphasized the study of classical texts, human potential, and the value of individual experience.
Example: Thinkers like Francesco Petrarca and Giovanni Pico della Mirandola championed the study of classical Greek and Roman works, believing that they could improve individual virtue and society.
Relevance: Useful for discussions on the intellectual revolution of the Renaissance, human potential, or the rediscovery of classical antiquity.
What is the relationship between Humanism and Classical Antiquity?
Key Point: Humanism was rooted in the rediscovery and study of classical antiquity, especially the works of ancient Greek and Roman philosophers, writers, and artists.
Example: Lorenzo Valla’s critical analysis of the Donation of Constantine, which challenged the legitimacy of papal power, exemplified humanist scholarship in action.
Relevance: Discuss in essays on intellectual change, the shift away from medieval scholasticism, or the influence of classical texts on the Renaissance.
What is the relationship between Humanism and Education?
Key Point: Humanism transformed education, emphasizing liberal arts, such as rhetoric, grammar, history, poetry, and moral philosophy, over medieval scholasticism.
Example: The Humanist educational system of the time promoted the study of the classics to develop virtuous, civic-minded individuals, influencing universities and schools throughout Europe.
Relevance: Useful for essays on educational reform, intellectual transformation, or the connection between humanism and civic engagement.
What is the relationship between Humanism and Individualism/Potential?
Key Point: Renaissance Humanism promoted individualism, asserting that people could shape their own destiny through knowledge, creativity, and personal achievement.
Example: Pico della Mirandola’s Oration on the Dignity of Man (1486) emphasized that humans were endowed with free will and had the potential for greatness.
Relevance: Fits into discussions on the intellectual foundations of the Renaissance, human potential, or the shift from religious determinism to individual autonomy.
What is the relationship between Humanism and Politics?
Key Point: Humanism had a significant impact on politics, as it encouraged civic engagement and the development of a well-rounded, virtuous citizenry.
Example: Niccolò Machiavelli’s The Prince (1513) exemplified the humanist approach to political theory, advocating for rulers to use pragmatic and sometimes ruthless methods to maintain power.
Relevance: Useful for discussing the development of political thought, the relationship between governance and intellectual movements, or Renaissance political philosophy.
What is the relationship between humanism and women?
Key Point: While Renaissance Humanism largely favored male intellectuals, there were notable female humanists who made significant contributions to the movement.
Example: Isabella d’Este, a patron of the arts, and Catherine de’ Medici, who engaged with the intellectual and political ideas of her time, embodied the potential of women within humanism.
Relevance: Fits into discussions about gender, the roles of women in Renaissance intellectual and cultural life, or the expansion of humanist ideas.
What is the relationship between Humanism and the Enlightenment
Key Point: Renaissance Humanism set the stage for the Enlightenment, influencing later intellectual movements such as Empiricism and Rationalism, which further emphasized reason and individual rights.
Example: Thinkers like John Locke and Voltaire drew on humanist ideas, especially in their promotion of reason and the pursuit of knowledge as tools for societal progress.
Relevance: Useful for connecting Renaissance thought to later intellectual movements, such as the Enlightenment, or discussing the long-term effects of humanism on Western philosophy.
What is the relationship between Humanism and the Printing Press?
Key Point: The printing press played a crucial role in the spread of humanist ideas by making classical texts, humanist writings, and scholarly works widely available.
Example: Humanists like Erasmus and Thomas More published works that reached broader audiences, encouraging the spread of Renaissance ideas across Europe.
Relevance: Fits into discussions on the relationship between technology (like the printing press) and intellectual movements, or the broader spread of Renaissance thought.
What is the relationship between Humanism and Art?
Key Point: Humanism influenced Renaissance art, encouraging artists to focus on human subjects, anatomical accuracy, perspective, and realistic portrayals of the natural world.
Example: Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo exemplified these ideals through their works such as the Vitruvian Man (Da Vinci) and the David (Michelangelo), which emphasized the human form.
Relevance: Use in discussions about cultural shifts, the relationship between intellectual and artistic change, or the Renaissance’s impact on the visual arts.
What is the relationship between humanism and religion?
Key Point: Renaissance Humanism interacted with religion, fostering a more critical and historical approach to scripture, often questioning established Church practices.
Example: Erasmus’s In Praise of Folly (1509) satirized the corruption of the Catholic Church, promoting the idea of a more personal, direct relationship with God.
Relevance: Discuss in essays on the intersection of religion and intellectual thought, critiques of the Church, or the intellectual roots of the Reformation.
What does Maxon argue?
