Humanism During the Renaissance :: Philosophy

Humanism During the RenaissanceDuring the renaissance, there was a renewed pastime in the arts, and the traditional views of society came into question. People began to explore the power of the kind mind. A term often used to describe the increasing involution in the powers of the human mind is humanism. Generally, humanism stresses the individuals creative, reasoning, and aesthetic powers. However, during the Renaissance, individual ideas near humanism differed. Writers and philosophers of the Renaissance time period expressed their opinions about human nature and humans roles in the universe through their writings. Pico della Mirandolas Oration on the lordliness of man, which glorifies humanity and praises the human ability to reason, offers the opposing view to Shakespe atomic number 18s hamlet and Montaignes try out Mans presumption and Littleness which both suggest that humans are no higher in the universal order of things than any other(a) of Gods creatures. Pico begin s his essay by informing his readers that he knows where humans stand in the divine order of the world. Pico believes that humans were the last creatures created by God, and that Gods purpose, in creating them, was to meet his desire for someone to appreciate the great wonders and beauties of his world When the work was finished, the artificer kept wishing that there were someone to ponder the plan of so great a work... therefore... he finally took greenght concerning the creation of man. (Mirandola 224) It is as well Picos belief that when Humans were created, they were given qualities both divine and earthly, and could become whatsoever they chose We have made thee neither of heaven nor of earth, neither mortal nor immortal, so that with freedom of choice... thou mayest fashion thyself in whatever shape thou shalt prefer. (Mirandola 225) Picos conclusion about human ranking among the divine order of things was that patch some people were almost celestial, others were no bett er than animals, and that this great part of character among the human population only served to increase their importance and singularity from all other of Gods creatures. His essay, which praised human greatness and exalted the powers of humanity, was opposed by more negative views of humanity, as expressed in the works of Montaigne and Shakespeare. Montaignes essay Mans presumption and Littleness belittles the greatness of man so much that he becomes no more than another beast among beasts, possibly even cut than some of Gods other creatures.