THE HUMANIST APPROACH IN WHAT WAYS CAN SHIFTS IN IDEAS AFFECT A SOCIETY’S WORLDVIEW

CLASSICAL WRITINGS The word humanist comes from the Latin word humanitas. The Romans used the term to refer to the quality of the human mind that sets it apart from animals, our spiritual; and intellectual abilities Latin, the language of the Romans, remained the language of the scholars and the Church Ancient writers like Aristotle and Plato were studied from the Christian perspective v=DtO_ztrCJtchttp:// v=DtO_ztrCJtc

CLASSICAL WRITINGS The renaissance worldview was a result of intercultural contact with earlier civilizations The Greek and Romans civilizations form what became known as “classical civilization” The Islamic civilization that preserved the knowledge of classical civilization and further developed it, especially in the sciences, math and medicine of the great civilization in India and the Far East The Humanist ideas spread mainly among the wealthy in society

HUMANISM AND THE INDIVDUAL Basic beliefs of humanists Human beings can use the power of reason, thinking to find truth for themselves It is important for an individual to have an open, curious and questioning mind People can achieve great things through learning Individuals should be skilled in many different area. Individuals should develop not just their minds but their bodies and spirits

HUMANIST SCHOLARS Francesco Petrarch, a humanist thinker of the early Renaissance, saw the classical past as a glorious time “In order to forget my own time. I have constantly striven to place myself in spirit in other ages, and consequently I delighted in history.” Later humanists would begin to see the present as a glorious time, a “renaissance” when the ideas and values of ancient times were reborn

HUMANIST SCHOLARS Greek and Roman manuscripts had been preserved in libraries in the Muslim world and in monastery and cathedral libraries throughout Europe In one year alone Giovanni Aurispa brought 240 Greek manuscripts to Europe Humanist wanted to make the ideas in these ancient works available to the widest possible readership. They believed that in order to be truly cultured, a person should read good books and look at great works of art

THINKERS AND SOCIETY Renaissance humanists were interested in what classical authors had written about good government Civic humanists believed that being a responsible citizen meant educating yourself about history and political issues and working to improve society An enhanced value on education was a key idea of the Renaissance Many rulers and wealthy hired humanists as tutors for their children

THINKERS AND SOCIETY The Renaissance thinkers were among the first environmentalists Let us permit nature to have her way. She understands her business better than we do. – Michel de Montainge Nature to be commanded must be obeyed – Francis Bacon Nature uses as little as possible of anything- Johannes Kepler

THINKERS AND SOCIETY The classical texts that were admired and studied by Renaissance scholars were written prior to the beginning of Christianity Religion continued to play an important part in their lives as it had during the Middle Ages Desiderius Erasmus, edited a new Greek version of the New testament Erasmus quote `` When I get a little money I buy books; and if there is any left I buy food and clothes.``

SOCIETY AND THE ARTS The arts of the Renaissance era became interested in portraying the beauty of the human body and the natural world Patrons who paid artists to produce works, played an important role in promoting arts during the Renaissance as long as there has been art, there has been the eternal debate about ``what is good art``

SOCIETY AND THE ARTS The Renaissance also saw a growing interest in portraits and landscapes Key elements of Renaissance style emphasis on the natural world use of light and shadow texture and pattern realistic details elegance What comments about these style aspects can you make about The Annunciation with Saint Emidius by Carlo Crivelli

SOCIETY AND THE ARTS An architect should be a good writer, a skillful draftsman, versed in geometry and optics, expert at figures, acquainted with history, informed on the principles or natural and moral philosophy, somewhat of a musician, not ignorant of the law and of physics, nor of motions, laws and relations to other heavenly bodies Maruc Vitruvious Pollio Architects from all over Europe travelled to Rome during the Renaissance to study the Pantheon, the Colosseum and other classic buildings Renaissance architects raised the status of their profession from skilled labourer to artist

SOCIETY AND THE ARTS Sculptors in the middle ages were seen as craftspeople rather than artists they were part of the carving team for cathedrals, carving figures that told biblical stories The Renaissance helped raise the status of many professions including artists Writers of this period often spent their time translating books from Greek and Roman texts Eventually books or texts written in the vernacular gained prominence