1. Chapter 3
The Humanist Approach

2. Worldviews Influenced
Time
Values
Society

3. A Rebirth of Ideas
A new way of thinking took place across the entire continent of Europe during the Renaissance.
This new way of thinking originated in the northern city-states.
Scholars from this region became known as humanists.
“a person who adopts a system of thought that centers on the humans and their values, capacities, and worth; concerned with the interests, needs, and welfare of humans”.

4. Classical Writings
These Italian scholars studied Greek and Roman writings and art and applied these classical ideas to their own lives.
Philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle were studied from a Christian perspective.
During the Renaissance these philosophers were studied in a different way.

5. Classical Writings
Humanist ideas spread mainly across the wealthy people in society.
Reading and discussing philosophy became trendy among the rich.

6. Borrowing from the Greeks and Romans
Humanism
Humanism
Borrowing from the Greeks and Romans
On Mind and Body
“You should pray
for a sound mind
in a sound body”
-Juvenal
On History
“To be ignorant of the
Lives of the most
Celebrated men of
Antiquity (great age)
Is to continue in a
State of childhood all
Our days” - Plutarch
On Education
“The educated differ
From the uneducated
As much as the living
From the dead”.
-Astistotle

7. Humanism and the Individual
The main concept of the Renaissance thinkers was the belief in the “dignity and potential of the individual”.
They believed that people should live there lives through their own efforts and talents.
These new ideas were adapted into the Christian worldview
“to develop one’s talents was to serve God, because God had provided you with those talents”.

8. Humanists Believed: People can think for themselves
People must have an open, curious, and questioning mind
People can achieve great things through education
People should have many skills. They should develop both their body and mind

9. Humanist Scholars
Saw the Classical Era (ancient Greece and Rome) as superior to the Medieval Age (deemed the Dark Age)
Humanists saw the Renaissance as the “rebirth” of the classical era
Put an emphasis on reading texts from the Classical Era

10. Civic Humanism
Renaissance humanist were interested in what classical authors had written about good government.
Cicero (philosopher) had an idea that public service was the duty of everyone in society.
Civic humanists believed that being a responsible citizen meant educating yourself about history and political issues and working to improve society.
Civic Humanist: Civic= citizen. Civic humanists are interested in how people can be good members of their society.

11. Humanist Education
Renaissance thinkers put a lot of importance on education
Leonardo Brundi on the wealthy merchant - “he never wasted time loitering, but returning home after business and spent his time in studying Greek and Latin”.
Many humanists were dedicated teachers who ran their own schools
It was important to train young peoples’ characters and bodies as well as their minds.
This was known as “educating the whole child”

12. Humanism and Religion Religion played a major role in renaissance life
Many humanists were devout christians

13. Society and the Arts
During the Renaissance, artists became focused on showing on the beauty of the human body and the natural world
Patrons: people who who paid artists to produce works, played an important role in promoting the arts during the Renaissance.
Patrons included members of the new wealthy merchant class, as well as the government and the Church.
Artist made works to decorate private homes or to display in public places

14. Painting
Renaissance artists found inspiration in the art of the ancient Greeks and Romans.
In the Middle Ages most art had a religious theme; this continued into the Renaissance
Inspired by Renaissance ideas these religious works began to take on a new shape. Portraits and Landscapes began to become more popular

15. Architecture
Architecture was very important in the Classical Era, during the Renaissance it shifted from a labour job to skilled job

16. Sculpture
in the middle ages sculptors were seen as craftsmen rather than artists
during the Renaissance artists became rock stars, this included sculptors

17. Literature
Early renaissance writers focused on translating the ancient Greek and Roman works
books written in the vernacular (commonly spoken languages) became more common.
Humanist writers focused on expressing their thoughts and emotions.
Love poems became very common
Pisan (chapter 2) was a very important renaissance writer of the time