Humanism and the Arts - Essay Example

Running Head: Humanism and the Arts Humanism and the Arts [Institute’s Humanism and the Arts Introduction The term of humanism, generally applies to the predominant intellectual and social movement that was active during the fourteen to the mid seventeen century. Renaissance humanism deserves the credit for ending the middle ages and leading the humans to the doors to modern era. The philosophical school of thoughts revolves around the idea that humans are rational beings and their moral character, social outlook, societal roles, ethical stances, and mental attitudes hold immense importance (Davies, 1997). Therefore, worldly pleasures and luxuries should hold secondary importance and social values should take the primary spot. Quite interestingly, humanists put enormous emphasis on the promotion of a new educational curriculum and mindset through which they could prepare and enable both men and women to take part in the virtuous and collective activities. Moreover, humanists were also very much concerned regarding the development of proper speaking and writing abilities in these men and women. They considered it as the pre-requisite of development and prosperity. Humanists believed that this goal becomes achievable with the study of studia humanitatis or humanities (Davies, 1997). After this brief introduction of humanism, the rest of this essay would be an attempt to investigate the development and history of humanism, nature of humanism and relation of humanism with arts. Discussion All academic circles today acknowledge humanities as a separate academic discipline or field of study. However, humanists of the late fifteenth century are responsible for the development of the same. As mentioned earlier in the paper, that they named it as studia humanitatis that included grammar, rhetoric, history, poetry, and ethics or moral philosophy. Quite understandably, the idea of having such as an outline of subjects was twofold. Firstly, the goal was to make the students with exceptional, graceful, and elegant orators and writers (Gay, 2001). Secondly, the idea was to make sure that people realize the importance of moral values, their collective responsibility towards the society and acknowledge their power of reasoning so that they can outclass their supernatural religious dogma, contribute for the betterment of their societies and can persuade others to do the same (Kelley, 1991). In addition, it is very interesting to compare scholasticism, the idea that pervaded in much of the pre-Renaissance European society, with humanism, which to a considerable extent, became successful in replacing it. Actually, humanism was a response to the inefficiencies, loopholes, and failures of scholasticism. Firstly, scholasticism failed to give the taste of practical experience to its followers and relied heavily on abstract thoughts. As mentioned earlier, humanists proposed that physical and moral development is also important with intellectual development (Grassi, 1988). Humanism refused to rely heavily on empirical approaches of social sciences and went on use speculative, critical, and analytic methods. Scholasticism put emphasis on training people to serve as doctors, nurses, theologians, lawyers and others by using approved and rigid concerned textbooks whereas humanism diverted its energy towards developing a society of great orators and writers (Kelley, 1991). As mentioned earlier, these elegant orators and writes would have the capability to persuade other members of the society to undertake socially and morally responsible actions. Francesco Petrarca, who lived in the 14 century, is considered as the “Father of humanism” or even the “Father of Renaissance” (Davies, 1997). Some authors have shown their disagreement here and tried to provide Dante with the credit of being the first one to introduce the concept of humanism. However, with careful study it becomes evident that despite Dante has some resemblance with the later humanist ideas but Petrarch has been the one to set up things in motion. Petrarch strongly believed that God has blessed humans with vast intellectual and creative potential that should be used to its fullest. Moreover, the study of human thought and action, through the study of classical literature and ancient history would be helpful in realizing this potential (Kelley, 1991). This explains why Petrarch spent a considerable part of his life traveling and collecting these old ancient texts from wherever possible. Niccolò de Niccoli, Leonardo Bruni, Poggio Bracciolini, Coluccio Salutati, Geert Groote and others are few of the other advocates of early humanism (Grassi, 1988). Quite understandably, all these people also made enormous efforts in collecting ancient texts, interpreting them and spreading the word. In fact, most of the early humanists were teachers, secretaries, librarians, travelers, artists, painters, musicians and some wealthy businesspersons and merchants (Grassi, 1988). As far as sculpture is concerned, humanists found their ideal in Plato in the same way in which scholastics found theirs in Aristotle. Their selection of Plato was quite understandable since many of the Plato’s teachings were in line with the humanists (Nauert, 1980). Plato’s republic, his moral philosophy, his acknowledgement of importance of literature and history made humanists to like Plato more than others (Gay, 2001). Humanist movement was launched in Italy and there is no coincidence in it. Obviously, humanism has strong connections with roman civilization since they view it as a glorious past in their past (Nauert, 1980). Moreover, much of the ancient texts and classic literature in form of philosophy, literature and history that humanists studied were from the Roman Empire. In fact, Italian scholars of that time felt that they were the direct descendants of the Romans and the heritage have been passed on to them. Since they were the inheritors, it became their silent responsibility to have all the knowledge of their ancestors, intimidate and spread the word (Gay, 2001). Despite the fact that in the coming years, humanist also gave attention to the Greek philosophers and their texts as well but still their main attention was towards their “ancestors”. This is why many of the humanist early painting and art was a mere depiction of ancient roman characters and stories. However, Petrarch and his followers treated Rome as a center of classical civilization unlike other philosophers who viewed Rome as the center of Christianity (Grassi, 1988). This explains how humanism helped to resist against the stiffness and repression of Christianity that was putting a dent on the intellectual freedom of the people of that time. However, it is also interesting to note that many of the humanist leaders were also members of church. Conclusion Since humanists put a lot of emphasis on education, it helped Europe to come out its medieval ages and start a journey of success, growth, and prosperity. Before humanism, education was a rather expensive and serious affair, undertaken only by people who had the time and the money. However, as humanism progressed, made affiliation with the churches and with the advent of printing presses, this knowledge became accessible to the masses (Nauert, 1980). References Davies, Tony (1997). Humanism: The New Critical Idiom. Routledge: UK. Gay, Peter (2001). The Party of Humanity: Essays in the French enlightenment. W. W. Norton: New York. Grassi, Ernesto. (1988). Renaissance humanism: studies in philosophy and poetics. Medieval & Renaissance Texts & Studies: UK Kelley, Donald R. (1991). Renaissance humanism. Twayne Publishers: Toronto Nauert, Charles Garfield. (1980). Renaissance Humanism: an emergent and its critics. Indiana Council for the Social Studies: Indiana Read More