...Brandon Fisher 10/20/15 Hum1020 What is humanism? Humanism can be described in many ways and expressed through various methods . Many authors tend to explain humanism in several different meanings, and because they do not clarify which meaning it is that they themselves believe and can often be the foundation of confusion. Modern humanism can vary from the renaissance humanism in many ways, because generations have changed and different problems arose through the time periods. Modern humanism depends on reason and human life itself, it rejects all sense of supernaturalism and has a dual origin. While renaissance humanism directly focuses on the arts, culture, and rhetorical traditions. In this generation the infatuation with humans and life itself describes differences that these three readings have. However, the author’s opinions on humanism connects the similarities that they share. In Margaret L. King’s Renaissance Humanism, the different essays cover the opinions of humanism which ties to the papal court and all medieval traditions . In each essay the topic is focused on literary and religious magnitudes as well as the idea of classical learning. The beliefs and aspirations of the people were centered on God and saints as well as some scholars becoming more interested in the sciences and arts . During the timeframe of these writings women who practiced humanism were often looked upon as problematic. They were typically more intelligent and willingly tried to step...
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...I began thoroughly learning about Humanism last year in my AP European History class. The concept of Humanism was, especially, known and expressed during the Renaissance in Italy. From what I know, this concept has a basis of appreciating humanity. Humanists tended to only focus on the “goodness” and morality of a human being. They viewed humans as “supreme” instead of an actual God. Humanism and the Italian Renaissance came after the era of the Middle Ages. To humanists, human beings had the “... ability to solve problems… and seek rational solutions…” instead of focusing on religious solutions (Ch. 17 pg 279). Before the Renaissance, many Europeans solely believed in what the Bible and the Church taught them; They refused to learn logical...
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...“Duke Jing of Qi once asked Confucius about government and Confucius replied, ‘Let the ruler be a ruler; the minister, a minister; the father, a father; the son, a son… Truly, if the ruler is not a ruler, the subject is not a subject, the father is not a father, and the son is not a son’” ("Selections from the Confucian Analects: On Government”). This excerpt shows that Confucius wished to design a society with clear hierarchical order set in place within both China’s government and society to maintain a balance of power. While the design had not been achieved in his lifetime, he believed that if the ruler did not carry out his roles then no one below him could carry out their own social roles. Consequently, if each individual role is not carried out, then both government and society would fall apart. Confucius’s theory ended up being correct, and Chinese government and society did fall apart. A thirst for power led ministers to kill rulers, sons killed fathers, brothers killed brothers, and wives killed husbands. This need for power led China to collapse; however, it all could have been avoided if civilians and rulers had carried out their individual social...
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...subject is interesting because it offers a unique perspective on the way human self-worth and importance was viewed and how Peter Matheson believed humanism was not essentially the key force driving the reforms of the sixteenth century. After reading Matheson’s analysis of humanism and the reform movements, it seems to me...
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...MUSI 1306 – Lecture Questions 3 1. Describe the term humanism. Humanism is a movement where people focused on life rather than religion. Their focus went back to ancient Greece, paintings/sculptures evolved, learning/teaching became important. 2. Describe the aesthetic differences between Da Vinci’s Madonna of the Yarnwinder and Giotto’s Madonna and Child. Da Vinci’s Madonna looks softer, gentle, younger, and prettier. The woman (Mary) appears kinder. Giotto’s Madonna is more modest. The woman (Mary) is covered up and appears hardened. 3. Describe at least three Renaissance “values.” Renaissance values are: Humanism: Learning was valued and art was inspired by ancient Greece. Individualism: People wanted to be recognized for who they were and the work (art/music) they created. Secularism: The people believed that the church shouldn’t have so much control over their affairs. 4. How did music fit into the life of an average person? Music was an important part of everyone’s life including the average people. Almost everyone know how to play an instrument. 5. How did the invention of the printing press impact the culture of the Renaissance? The printing press made it easier to record works. They were able to print books which encouraged learning. 6. How did humanism affect the role of the church in society? Humanism made it where the church didn’t have a role in their political or social affairs. 7. What objections about music were voiced...
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...During 1500-1600 the church had many roles in the lives of the people and in the government. The church ran everything which made it very powerful and controlling. Since the church was so powerful and controlling, people had faith in it and were willing to devote time and money to the church. Throughout the Renaissance the power of the church began to decline rapidly. Although the role of the church changed throughout the Renaissance it was the base to everything in this time period, such as art, literature, poetry, and government, etc. Since the role of the church changed during the Renaissance everything the church was involved in also changed. Art was being controlled by the church during and before the Italian Renaissance. Every piece...
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...of the Italian Renaissance? Florence was at the heart of the Italian Renaissance because it was started from Florence, and it was one of the wealthiest cities with significant power. The Medici family helped Florence become a cultural center for meetings or discussions about art. 3. What role did the Medici family play in the Renaissance Florence? The Medici family showed special interests for arts and literature, so they financed numerous art creations and get-togethers for the benefit of Florence. 4. Regarding humanism: -What are the characteristics of humanism? How is it different from medieval scholasticism? from nominalism? The characteristics of humanism include learning, anatomy, realism, reason, nature, youth, individualism, and perspective. Scholasticism was more orientated towards philosophers or theologians and it failed to offer moral guidance, however, humanism was about direct sources such as the bible or Latin/Greek classics. Nominalism is considered to believe that abstract or general terms are real, while humanism prefers human views. -Why is Petrarch considered to be the "Father of Humanism"? Petrarch is considered to be the father of humanism because he managed to put classical and philosophical ideas into a Christian based framework. -Why was Cicero a favorite classical figure of Renaissance humanists? Cicero was a favorite classical figure of Renaissance humanists because he was the best rhetorician and orator of ancient...
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...talked about that Italy had been the birthplace for the modern world and it was the first country to experience cultural revival. The modern age in Europe begins with the Renaissance in the year of 1350-1600. Writers and artists wanted to recover the learning of ancient Greece and Rome and to apply it to their own lives. The culture of the Renaissance transformed are the way people in the West see themselves the way we live in society and community, the nature of art, and the way of role learning. The Renaissance was most definitely an age of progress because art, literature, and humanistic principles all play a huge role in the world we live in today. Humanism is a collection of Greek and Roman teachings by artists and writers of the Renaissance used the term to humanism to distinguish their period from the past. Scholasticism focused on preparing men to be doctors, lawyers, and teachers was taught from approved textbooks in logic, natural philosophy, medicine, law and theology. The main centers of humanism were Florence and...
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...of the Italian Renaissance? Florence was at the heart of the Italian Renaissance because it was started from Florence, and it was one of the wealthiest cities with significant power. The Medici family helped Florence become a cultural center for meetings or discussions about art. 3. What role did the Medici family play in the Renaissance Florence? The Medici family showed special interests for arts and literature, so they financed numerous art creations and get-togethers for the benefit of Florence. 4. Regarding humanism: -What are the characteristics of humanism? How is it different from medieval scholasticism? from nominalism? The characteristics of humanism include learning, anatomy, realism, reason, nature, youth, individualism, and perspective. Scholasticism was more orientated towards philosophers or theologians and it failed to offer moral guidance, however, humanism was about direct sources such as the bible or Latin/Greek classics. Nominalism is considered to believe that abstract or general terms are real, while humanism prefers human views. -Why is Petrarch considered to be the "Father of Humanism"? Petrarch is considered to be the father of humanism because he managed to put classical and philosophical ideas into a Christian based framework. -Why was Cicero a favorite classical figure of Renaissance humanists? Cicero was a favorite classical figure of Renaissance humanists because he was the best rhetorician and orator of ancient...
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...rights without jeopardizing liberties. Kramnick states that there was a divide amongst the colony. As stated in the Federalist number 10, land was as the center of this divide; it broke people up into creditor and debtors. The Federalist also states manufacturing and money interests played a role in this divide (Kramnick 6). Locke was against this divide, he quotes “justice gives every Man a Title to the product of his honest Industry” (Kramnick 6). Locke Madison and the Federalist believed in a liberal society where everyone should be treated fairly, and be respective of their “private rights” and “property rights” (Kramnick 6). Kramnick refers to CIvic humanism as the government should provide a place for this equality. The government should represent equal rights. As Hamilton states, “The idea of an actual...
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...Leslie C. Lee HIEU 205 June 23, 2014 Italian and Northern Humanism During the age known as the Renaissance, humanism was a thriving force within Europe. Humanism had a profound impact on how man viewed the role of education and intellectualism within society. Renaissance humanism has been defined as simply a curriculum based upon the study of Greco-Roman classics that affected the culture and man’s point of view. Renaissance humanism was ultimately divided into two branches which came to be known as Civic humanism and Christian humanism which defined differences between Italian humanists and Northern humanists. Leon Battista Alberti (1404-1472) and Desiderius Erasmus (1469-1536) and their ideals exemplify what separated the two. The contrast between Italian humanism and Northern humanism can be simply stated as one led man away from God, the other drew man closer to God. Education was crucial a factor in the ideals of both Italian and Northern humanists. Classical scholarship was the heart of Italian humanism while Christian scholarship was the chosen education of Northern humanists. The classical Latin language of Cicero was an important part of both scholarship curriculums and both Alberti and Erasmus were fluent in Latin. The differences between scholarships were the exclusion or inclusion of Christian classics. Italian humanists unlike Northern humanists held the idea that the classic Latin language should be the chosen language of the elite. It was a common practice...
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...speakers approaches a podium in a foreign country. He is not dressed in proper attire. He gives his speech about how trade between our nations could benefit us both. Unfortunately he is slouched over and doesn’t move or gesture to convey the feelings and motives behind his speech. He delivers the speech without the correct intonation and volume. He doesn’t use effective wording and a rich tone of voice. I imagine witnessing this would be a catastrophe for any relations between two foreign nations. Without the study of behaviorism and the methods of elocution, we would still be living in hovels, and most likely living in fear of the people around us. My point of view about the interpretive studies or (humanism) would have to start with Classical Greek and Hellenistic Humanism. The classical period in Greece, and the Greek-influenced period that directly followed, was the wellspring for philosophy and art in Western Civilization. It featured: * Human-centered sculpture and painting, in an increasingly natural and realistic style * A fascination with mathematics and geometry, leading to advances in architecture * A development of the art of drama and the creation of great works of theater * Writings on the subject of virtue and excellence From this Era we gained some of the greatest Western philosophers, and their philosophies. Like Socrates, he used paradox and discourse to rid students of...
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...speakers approaches a podium in a foreign country. He is not dressed in proper attire. He gives his speech about how trade between our nations could benefit us both. Unfortunately he is slouched over and doesn’t move or gesture to convey the feelings and motives behind his speech. He delivers the speech without the correct intonation and volume. He doesn’t use effective wording and a rich tone of voice. I imagine witnessing this would be a catastrophe for any relations between two foreign nations. Without the study of behaviorism and the methods of elocution, we would still be living in hovels, and most likely living in fear of the people around us. My point of view about the interpretive studies or (humanism) would have to start with Classical Greek and Hellenistic Humanism. The classical period in Greece, and the Greek-influenced period that directly followed, was the wellspring for philosophy and art in Western Civilization. It featured: * Human-centered sculpture and painting, in an increasingly natural and realistic style * A fascination with mathematics and geometry, leading to advances in architecture * A development of the art of drama and the creation of great works of theater * Writings on the subject of virtue and excellence From this Era we gained some of the greatest...
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...base and the superstructure. He argues that capitalist production forms the economic base and this ultimately shapes our superstructure, like institutions, religion, law and education. However, Althusser criticises this for being too simplistic and suggests a more complex two way causality model. He argues there are three levels; Economic level: comprising all those activities that involve producing something in order to satisfy and need. Political level: comprising all forms of organisation. And the Ideological level: involving the ways that people see themselves and their world. He believes each level can affect each other and impact different choices and beliefs on each level. This approach discourages political action because it is the role of structural forces rather than free will; it is active struggler of the working class that change society. On the other hand, Gramsci rejects that movement to communism will be brought out by economic forces. Karl Marx looked at class consciousness and concluded that capitalism will eventually destroy itself. By polarising the classes and creating a larger proletariat from the form middle classes, this large group of people...
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...Religio of Religious Freedom In class, we examined the crisis of Europe’s “religio”, which played a crucial role in the disintegration of the Church as an institution and eventually brought an end to the Middle Ages. In reaction to the Church’s corrupt cases, extensive political involvement, wealth and power overshadowing spirituality, and complicated doctrines incomprehensible by laypeople, many reform movements sprouted across Europe that escalated a new way of thinking about religion. The Mendicant movement, which stressed spirituality of simplicity in response to church wealth, power, and corruption, and Mysticism, which stressed individual spiritual experience instead of dogmatic doctrines, were monumental steps in the direction towards religious freedom. These movements, along with the Renaissance’s emphasis on human experience and capability and the recovery of classical and early Christian sources produced a serious challenge to the Roman Catholic concept of Christendom and introduced a spirit of fresh inquiry and independent thought. These movements created a snowball effect for intellectual emancipation, eventually leading to the 30 years war, religious splits, and territorial splits. What is most interesting is that institutionalized Christianity, the crux of society for more than three centuries, was no longer the same glue or “religio” in the Early Modern Era; ironically, the development of religious freedom was this “religio” for society. It is important...
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