Renaissance Humanism

CONCEPTS OF HUMANISM

• social philosophy and intellectual and literary currents of the period from 1400 to

1650.

• The return to favor of classics brought about the philosophy of secularism,

appreciation of worldly pleasures, and encouraged personal independence and

individual expression.

• Breaking away from religious control over ALL aspects of life (literature, education,

art, thought…)

• Wanted to revive ideals taught in classical civilizations (greece and Rome)

• Focus instead on Human qualities and worldly pleasures ( beginning of

materialism)

EMERGENCE(14TH CENTURY)

Father of Humanism: Petrarch (1304-1374)

• His works were the 1st to convey the Middle ages as a period of darkness.

• Worked to convince people to value a life influenced by the classic works of Ancient Greece and Rome

People now encouraged to value human

affairs, issues and principles opposed to

ones governed and taught by the church.

Change in educational focus: grammar,

rhetoric, history, poetry and moral

philosophy.

D E V E L O P M E N T( 1 5 T H C E N T U RY )

During the second generation of Humanism, Petrarch’s students

and followers chose to follow a more relaxed view of intellectual

study= Civic Humanism

The new ideas of Civic Humanism incorporated family and action in

the community.

Leonardo Bruni (1370-1444): The New Cicero

By the late 15th century most of the high classes had reformed to

use of humanist teachings in education.

E F F E C T O N H I S TO R I C A L V I E W S A N D C L A S S I F I C AT I O N

It altered the way History was thought of and recorded.

Introduced classification of eras because of their thoughts

on the separation between the ancient and Middle ages.

Historical writings have less influence on miracles and

magic.

Use of Vernacular (instead of Latin)

EFFECT IN ART

Middle Ages Renaissance

IMPLICATIONS AND IMPACT FROM HUMANISM

1st step towards a rational, realistic view on the world that

eventually came with modernism and the practice and trust in

sciences