Humanism Essay

Arguably the greatest and longest impacting movement brought about by the forward thinkers of the Renaissance was humanism. Humanism was a cultural and intellectual movement that emphasized the human potential to attain excellence through direct study of the literature, art, and civilization of the classical Greek and Roman societies (Merriam-Webster). The scholars and believers in humanism sought to change the course of society away from the narrow pedantry of medieval scholasticism and utilitarianism. Humanism was a basic desire for every citizen to be able to speak with eloquence and read and write with clarity, so that common citizens were capable of engaging in the civic life of their communities (Gray). The movement also emphasized the value of a human being as well as the importance of rational thought rather than blind faith in spiritualism or superstition. It also pushed people to explore human desires and pleasures while also enriching their minds. The influential nature of humanism was far reaching and most notable for its effects on Renaissance art, literature, and philosophy.

Humanism also encouraged people to help their society by combining the talents. An example of that can be found in Florence where three humanists served as chancellors of the city. Coluccio Salutati, Leonardo Bruni, and Poggio Bracciolini used rhetorical skills to encourage Florentines to revolt against the aggression of Naples and Milan. Both Bruni and Poggio wrote flattering histories of the city. Leon Battista Alberti, another accomplished humanist scholar, was a noted Florentine architect and builder. They were encouraged to combine their skills in history, art, and literature in their every day lives. This made them see the world with a different perspective, which made them into the individuals they aspired to be.

The secularism and humanism of the Renaissance were reflected in its scholarship and education. Its concern was with this world rather than the hereafter, and its focus was on pagan classics rather than Christian theology. The father Of Renaissance literature, Petrarch, stressed that the new boarding schools were not to train priests but the sons of merchants.

Before the Renaissance, education wasn’t as important to people, particularly during the the period of the dark ages and the Black Plague. It wasn’t until the rebirth of Italy, that humanist values began to emerge in schools. Referring to literature

Psychology is a topic that is full off theories, statics, ism's! Today we are going to look at Humanism VS. Behaviorism, but before we can look at these two, you must have a clear understanding of what psychology is. The best way I can describe psychology is the studying of the mind and behaviors, so that’s a pretty broad definition. Psychology can be broken down in to several aspects. As we take a closer look at psychology you will begin to see how the mind is connected to everything we do, I have heard people say there is" no rhyme or reason" someone does something, well psychology proves that statement to be incorrect. There is always an explanation for why people behave the way they do, or learn the way they do, process situations, and

The ideals of the Renaissance were very different from those of the Middle Ages. The worldview of the Middle Ages was shaped by religion. Tradition, such as God being perfect, was not questioned. This was very different from the viewpoint during the Renaissance. The thinkers of the Renaissance questioned everything and revived interest in classic ancient Greek and Roman thought. This revived interest in classical Greek and Roman thinking was called humanism. Humanism put a prime importance on humans rather than divine matters. Thinkers from the Renaissance explored the fullness and diversity of human knowledge in the present. They also placed importance on individual

All humanists made an alliance with power by acting as spokespeople for the patrician class. Their writings were effusive towards the everyone and everything inside of the cities they lived in. All of their works were written to favor the aristocrats. Leonardo Bruni was an Italian Humanist during the Renaissance. In his Panegyric to the City of Florence, Bruni illustrates his version of what Florence was like for the purpose of inspiring his and future generations of what an ideal city-state should embody.

Beginning roughly around the year 1400 an era in Europe began; one that would shape the ideas and the lives of men. This era of rebirth or renaissance came within the fifteenth century through the revival of classical texts. One central effect of the Renaissance was the production of a new intellectual idea: humanism. Humanism being defined as a, “[t]erm invented in the 19th century. . . [regarding] developments relating to the revival of Classical literature and learning in European culture from roughly 1300 to 1600” left its mark on all of Europe leaving nothing untouched not even the artist. Both northern and southern art would be affected by humanism but in different ways ranging from changes in the human form, new choices of

This came especially to a humanist and popular poet named Fransesco Petrarch. He and many others showed an astounding interest in the ancient past, the physical remains of what was left of the Roman Empire and the classics of Latin texts. Studiahumanities or liberal studies was known as the study of Latin classics. All programs of study contain an implicit philosophy which is also known as humanism. Peoples acheivements, interests, and capabilities are expressed through humanism. Renaissance humanists had a christian perspective. Women were thought of at a lower degree but both men and women thought they were made in a likeness image of God. Ones special capabilities and talents were expressed through individualism. A life active in the world shoudl be shwon to all individuals and education shouldnt be private or fro religious reasons but expresses and shown to the public.

I. Overview of politics, economics, religion and ideology in Italy at the time Botticelli was working:

The fall 1986 Tennessee court decision on alleged "secular humanism" in Holt, Rinehart, Winston textbooks illustrates the continuing controversy over that term.

The age old question of what it means to be human can be answered through many viewpoints. There are several specie specific qualities that differentiate humans from any other creature, but with that being said, humans are often compared and contrasted with animals and machines. Some of these specific qualities are the ability to interpret, free will, and the use of language, but what does it really mean to be human?

At the core of the humanist agenda was the idea of virtue, or behavior with a great moral standard. A man named Francesco Petrarch helped to found these beliefs, by studying classic Roman sources such as the scholar Cicero. Petrarch believed that these classics works could teach someone to be wise and virtuous (class notes). He helped to make Humanism a popular movement among intellectuals of the time and cement the idea that the classical works could help guide humans to live a virtuous and wise

The gigantic effect that education had on Renaissance society was greatly stimulated by the new development of humanism. Humanism was responsible for the curiosity of many intellects during the Renaissance, which ultimately led to the discoveries and developments that made the Renaissance such a remarkable time. It proposed a different way of thinking, unprecedented by scholars. Without humanism and the educational interest that it brought about, the Renaissance would not be known as the explosion of culture that it is considered today.

Encarta Dictionary says that Humanism is a system of thought that centers on human beings and their values, capacities and worth. Encarta also goes on the say that, in philosophy, humanism is an attitude that emphasizes the dignity and worth of an individual. A basic premise of humanism is that people are rational beings who possess within themselves the capacity for truth and goodness. I see myself as a being a humanist through everyday life. I always try to see the good in a person when he/she makes me angry or sad, and say I to myself that maybe that person has had a bad day and living life is difficult at the moment. Socrates was even an early humanist of sorts. He can be quoted as saying, "to know the good is to do the