Philosophies of the European Renaissance:
Humanism
How is Humanism a new way of
thinking?
The Renaissance was a time of creativity and
change in Europe. It was a rebirth of cultural and
intellectual pursuits after the stagnation of the
Middle Ages. The Renaissance produced a
golden age with many achievements in art,
literature, and science, but most importantly, it
produced a new concept of how people thought
of themselves, each other, and the world around
them. The Renaissance was centered in Italy during the 1300s, before spreading throughout Europe in the 1500
and 1600s.
The new interest in the classical past led to an important value
in Renaissance culture—humanism. This was a deep interest
in what people have already achieved as well as what they
could achieve in the future. Humanism was an intellectual
movement where people began to focus on life in the
present, which was in contrast to the Middle Ages' focus
on the after life. Scholars did not try to connect classical
writings to Christian teaching. Instead, they tried to
understand them on their own terms.
Humanism stressed the importance of education, with
the study of ancient Greek and Roman texts becoming
the learning standard. Humanism also stressed the importance of the individual. This movement was
the driving force of the Renaissance and is reflected in the period's artistic, literary, and scientific
achievements.
1. Explain the philosophy of humanism.
2. Describe 2 ways Humanism contrasted (differed) with the way people thought in the Middle Ages?
How does Humanist thinking lead to cultural achievements?
In the Middle Ages, the emphasis had been mostly on spiritual
values. Renaissance thinkers stressed secular ideas. These ideas
centered on the things of the world. One way that powerful or
wealthy people showed this interest in worldly things was by paying
artists, writers, and musicians to create beautiful works of art.
Wealthy people who supported artists were known as patrons.
People tried to show that they could master many fields of study or
work. This is now known as being a Renaissance man. Individuals
who succeeded in many fields were admired greatly. The artist
Leonardo da Vinci was an example of this ideal. He was a painter, a
scientist, and an inventor. A humanist's goal was to reach the height
of their human potential. Men of the Renaissance were expected to
be charming, witty, well educated, well mannered, athletic, and self controlled. Women were expected
to have many accomplishments, too. But women were not to show them in public in what was a very
male dominated society.
3. What are secular ideas?
4. What is the goal of Humanists?
Review-highlight the answer the best answers the question
5. Which term is defined as a Renaissance movement
characterized by independent thought and a
renewed interest in classical Greek and Roman culture?
(1) multiculturalism
(2) humanism
(3) nationalism
(4) monasticism
6. The revival of Greek and Roman culture, the
economic growth of Italian city-states in the 1400s,
and the development of humanism were aspects of
the
(1) Age of Revolutions
(2) Protestant Reformation
(3) spread of Islam
(4) European Renaissance
7. In the Renaissance period, which factor was
emphasized by the philosophy of humanism?
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
superiority of medieval thought
devotion to religion
value of the individual
obedience to government officials
8. European society during the renaissance differed
from European society during the Middle Ages in that
during the Renaissance
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
the Church was no longer influential
the emphasis on individual worth increased
economic activity declined
art no longer contained religious themes
How does humanism affect people’s thinking about social standing?
Humanists’ ideals also affected people's thinking about social
standing. In feudal times, people were born into a certain status
in society. If someone was born a peasant, he or she would
always have less status than a noble. Renaissance thinkers
prized individual achievement more than a person’s class or
family. This emphasis on individualism was an enormous shift
from medieval thinking.
9. How did social status (standing) differ from feudal times to the period of the Renaissance?
Humanism and the Catholic Church
The humanists’ new ideas sometimes brought them into conflict
with the Catholic Church. The church taught that laws were
made by God and that those who broke them were sinful. It
encouraged people to follow the teachings without question in
order to save their souls. For the church, life after death was
more important than life on Earth. In contrast, humanists
believed that people should use their minds to question
everything. Most tried to balance religious faith and its emphasis
on the afterlife with an active interest in daily life. Some directly
challenged teachings that were dear to the church.
10. How was religion different in the Renaissance compared to Medieval times?