Humanism During The Renaissance
Picture a world where reason is considered second tier to blind faith, wealth is the measure of a man, and war, famine, and plague spread like the common cold. Although hard to imagine, this was the reality of Europe in the Middle Ages, a period of about eight hundred years when society primarily focused on religion and the Catholic Church, rather than art, science, or even mankind. Then, something changed. The change began slowly, originated in Italy, and then spread to places such as England, Germany, and Belgium. But with it, this change, known as the Renaissance, brought revolutionary achievements in art, literature, and science. For the first time in hundreds of years, people started to question the Catholic Church, and began thinking
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for themselves. The Renaissance ushered in an intellectual golden age, but it also changed the way man looked at himself and others. Mankind became important again, and the individual gained a new level of significance. The development most essential to this shift in views was humanism. Humanism is the idea that the achievements and accomplishments of the individual are what matter most. It caused people to look at themselves and others, not only God, as beautiful creations. Humanists believed in the importance of logic and reason, and taught that these principles should be balanced with faith. Without the philosophy of humanism, many of the components so instrumental to the Renaissance would never have come into existence. Humanism was the development most effective in changing man’s view of man, due to that fact that it encouraged society to look at humans in a new way, discouraged blind faith and urged people to view life through the lenses of science and reason, and lead to the creation of many inventions, works of art, and discoveries essential to the Renaissance.
To begin with, humanism dramatically shifted the way people looked at themselves and others, thus altering the way man viewed mankind. In the Middle Ages, the Church and its members were considered superior to the majority of society, and most people were looked at as mere mortals, secondary to anything or anybody holy. After humanism was developed, the individual was celebrated for its beauty and intelligence. A person’s accomplishments were more important than how many times they went to church, or how many hours they spent praying. One aspect of the Renaissance where humanist influence is clear is art. Medieval artists painted only religious scenes, with golden backgrounds, haloed saints, and enlarged depictions of God and his family. These paintings reflected the religion-centered life that was so common in the Middle Ages. Renaissance artists, using humanist principles, painted ordinary people against natural backgrounds, often striving to show emotion in their works. They used mathematical concepts to make their paintings proportional. Renaissance writers were often humanists as well. Writings began to praise mankind rather than deities, and spoke of everyday occurrences rather than religion, differing from the medieval topics of sin, heaven, and hell. Even William Shakespeare was influenced by humanism, writing, “What a piece of work is a man! How noble in reason! How infinite in faculty! In form and moving how express and admirable!” (DBQ 2011/ Source 1, Document A) in Hamlet. It is clear how the playwright believed in the humanist principle of individual beauty. Humanism even encouraged average people to become active in politics and get involved in their cities. Take it away, and where would the Renaissance man be? Waiting for heavenly aid to fix the world for him? With the humanist drive to take control of his own destiny, man began to change the world for the better in his own way. Through humanism, man became the center of his own universe.
Furthermore, humanism encouraged logical and reasonable thinking, which was essential to the Renaissance. In that era, the Church was no longer the center of life. People began to question religion, and started to look to science for explanations of the world. Humanism taught of a balance of faith and reason, urging people to look at the world in a logical, scientific way. Once they did this, they realized that it wasn’t religion or the church that shaped reality; it was man himself. It was realized that the world was made up of scientific principles, not fantastical legends. As written in the Newsela article “The Italian Renaissance”, “Humanism encouraged people to be curious and to question received wisdom, particularly that of the Catholic Church.” (Newsela 2017/ Source 2). Renaissance scientists dissected corpses, questioned the Bible, and performed experiments to get their information. Without the humanist drive to find answers, these scholars wouldn’t have gotten far past medieval ideas. Humanists looked back to the ancient Greeks and Romans to satisfy their curiosity on a variety of subjects, but also set out in search of answers themselves. While medieval scientists believed that the Earth was at the center of the universe, Renaissance thinkers such as Galileo Galilei strove to prove that all planets, including Earth, revolve around the Sun. When Galileo was arrested for this belief, he demonstrated his humanist qualities by standing by what he thought what the truth. Scholars studying anatomy disproved the outdated theory that the body was governed by zodiac signs, and drew detailed diagrams of the human body, completed with muscles, skeletal structure, and organs. To do this, they had to put their religious beliefs aside, and do something that only a humanist would have the determination to do: dissect human bodies. Inventors like Leonardo da Vinci imagined flying machines and scuba-suits. Da Vinci practiced the humanist method of logical thinking to arrive at his conclusions. Mapmakers, inspired to leave their villages and travel the world by spreading humanist ideas, made improvements in cartography, allowing for greater trade and knowledge of the world. With all of these accomplishments, humankind had a better understanding of the world, and therefore itself. If not for humanism, none of these advances would have been possible. It was through the humanist principles of curiosity and reason that these accomplishments were achieved. It was through these same principles that man realized that he was something more than a creature shrouded in mystery.
As a final point, the inventions and discoveries of the Renaissance owe their creation to humanism.
These developments aided greatly in changing how humanity was viewed, and they depended on humanism. While some may argue that technological advances, or the growing city-states of Italy, were the main contributors to the Renaissance’s success, it must be taken into account that the city-states had been in existence long before the Renaissance era, and had not had a dramatic effect on man until the fourteenth century. As for the technological advances, what was it that inspired their creators to bring them into existence? Humanism. Humanism was the driving force behind achievement in the Renaissance. Its ideas and teachings inspired artists, scientists, and inventors to produce works that would change the world forever. The Mona Lisa, if not for humanism, would just be another religious painting. What was the greatest function of the printing press, if not to spread humanist ideas? And, without humanism, Shakespeare’s writings would not have the influence they did and continue to have today. It was through humanism that the products of the Renaissance gained their significance, that the great thinkers of the era were inspired to create great things, and even that society as a whole appreciated them. In the article “Humanism in the Renaissance”, the author writes, “The people of the Renaissance became interested in other areas of science... People now studied mathematics, engineering, and architecture. Artists, writers, musicians and composers began creating work outside of the church. Artists signed their work and authors wrote autobiographies and memoirs... The values and ideals popular during the European Renaissance can be described by the term secular [not religious] humanism.”(Spielvogel #1/Source 3) Humanism was what made the features of the Renaissance possible. If not for humanism, the ingredients that lead to the golden age of the Renaissance might have
never been created. With these innovations, man’s view of himself shifted greatly. These were developments never thought of before the Renaissance. Humankind could see how far it had evolved from medieval times. Without humanism’s inspiration, the Renaissance would have gone in a very different direction.
In summation, humanism was the development that most affected the Renaissance and its rapid spread throughout Europe. The philosophy changed the way humankind was viewed, and praised the significance of the individual. It taught the importance of logic and reason, and inspired people to use science and mathematics in their lives. Without humanism, the components that made the Renaissance what it was would not have even come into existence. Humanism greatly changed the way man viewed man, and was the single most essential development of the Renaissance, the match that lit the flame that spread throughout the darkness of medieval Europe, illuminating people as it went.
for themselves. The Renaissance ushered in an intellectual golden age, but it also changed the way man looked at himself and others. Mankind became important again, and the individual gained a new level of significance. The development most essential to this shift in views was humanism. Humanism is the idea that the achievements and accomplishments of the individual are what matter most. It caused people to look at themselves and others, not only God, as beautiful creations. Humanists believed in the importance of logic and reason, and taught that these principles should be balanced with faith. Without the philosophy of humanism, many of the components so instrumental to the Renaissance would never have come into existence. Humanism was the development most effective in changing man’s view of man, due to that fact that it encouraged society to look at humans in a new way, discouraged blind faith and urged people to view life through the lenses of science and reason, and lead to the creation of many inventions, works of art, and discoveries essential to the Renaissance.
To begin with, humanism dramatically shifted the way people looked at themselves and others, thus altering the way man viewed mankind. In the Middle Ages, the Church and its members were considered superior to the majority of society, and most people were looked at as mere mortals, secondary to anything or anybody holy. After humanism was developed, the individual was celebrated for its beauty and intelligence. A person’s accomplishments were more important than how many times they went to church, or how many hours they spent praying. One aspect of the Renaissance where humanist influence is clear is art. Medieval artists painted only religious scenes, with golden backgrounds, haloed saints, and enlarged depictions of God and his family. These paintings reflected the religion-centered life that was so common in the Middle Ages. Renaissance artists, using humanist principles, painted ordinary people against natural backgrounds, often striving to show emotion in their works. They used mathematical concepts to make their paintings proportional. Renaissance writers were often humanists as well. Writings began to praise mankind rather than deities, and spoke of everyday occurrences rather than religion, differing from the medieval topics of sin, heaven, and hell. Even William Shakespeare was influenced by humanism, writing, “What a piece of work is a man! How noble in reason! How infinite in faculty! In form and moving how express and admirable!” (DBQ 2011/ Source 1, Document A) in Hamlet. It is clear how the playwright believed in the humanist principle of individual beauty. Humanism even encouraged average people to become active in politics and get involved in their cities. Take it away, and where would the Renaissance man be? Waiting for heavenly aid to fix the world for him? With the humanist drive to take control of his own destiny, man began to change the world for the better in his own way. Through humanism, man became the center of his own universe.
Furthermore, humanism encouraged logical and reasonable thinking, which was essential to the Renaissance. In that era, the Church was no longer the center of life. People began to question religion, and started to look to science for explanations of the world. Humanism taught of a balance of faith and reason, urging people to look at the world in a logical, scientific way. Once they did this, they realized that it wasn’t religion or the church that shaped reality; it was man himself. It was realized that the world was made up of scientific principles, not fantastical legends. As written in the Newsela article “The Italian Renaissance”, “Humanism encouraged people to be curious and to question received wisdom, particularly that of the Catholic Church.” (Newsela 2017/ Source 2). Renaissance scientists dissected corpses, questioned the Bible, and performed experiments to get their information. Without the humanist drive to find answers, these scholars wouldn’t have gotten far past medieval ideas. Humanists looked back to the ancient Greeks and Romans to satisfy their curiosity on a variety of subjects, but also set out in search of answers themselves. While medieval scientists believed that the Earth was at the center of the universe, Renaissance thinkers such as Galileo Galilei strove to prove that all planets, including Earth, revolve around the Sun. When Galileo was arrested for this belief, he demonstrated his humanist qualities by standing by what he thought what the truth. Scholars studying anatomy disproved the outdated theory that the body was governed by zodiac signs, and drew detailed diagrams of the human body, completed with muscles, skeletal structure, and organs. To do this, they had to put their religious beliefs aside, and do something that only a humanist would have the determination to do: dissect human bodies. Inventors like Leonardo da Vinci imagined flying machines and scuba-suits. Da Vinci practiced the humanist method of logical thinking to arrive at his conclusions. Mapmakers, inspired to leave their villages and travel the world by spreading humanist ideas, made improvements in cartography, allowing for greater trade and knowledge of the world. With all of these accomplishments, humankind had a better understanding of the world, and therefore itself. If not for humanism, none of these advances would have been possible. It was through the humanist principles of curiosity and reason that these accomplishments were achieved. It was through these same principles that man realized that he was something more than a creature shrouded in mystery.
As a final point, the inventions and discoveries of the Renaissance owe their creation to humanism.
These developments aided greatly in changing how humanity was viewed, and they depended on humanism. While some may argue that technological advances, or the growing city-states of Italy, were the main contributors to the Renaissance’s success, it must be taken into account that the city-states had been in existence long before the Renaissance era, and had not had a dramatic effect on man until the fourteenth century. As for the technological advances, what was it that inspired their creators to bring them into existence? Humanism. Humanism was the driving force behind achievement in the Renaissance. Its ideas and teachings inspired artists, scientists, and inventors to produce works that would change the world forever. The Mona Lisa, if not for humanism, would just be another religious painting. What was the greatest function of the printing press, if not to spread humanist ideas? And, without humanism, Shakespeare’s writings would not have the influence they did and continue to have today. It was through humanism that the products of the Renaissance gained their significance, that the great thinkers of the era were inspired to create great things, and even that society as a whole appreciated them. In the article “Humanism in the Renaissance”, the author writes, “The people of the Renaissance became interested in other areas of science... People now studied mathematics, engineering, and architecture. Artists, writers, musicians and composers began creating work outside of the church. Artists signed their work and authors wrote autobiographies and memoirs... The values and ideals popular during the European Renaissance can be described by the term secular [not religious] humanism.”(Spielvogel #1/Source 3) Humanism was what made the features of the Renaissance possible. If not for humanism, the ingredients that lead to the golden age of the Renaissance might have
never been created. With these innovations, man’s view of himself shifted greatly. These were developments never thought of before the Renaissance. Humankind could see how far it had evolved from medieval times. Without humanism’s inspiration, the Renaissance would have gone in a very different direction.
In summation, humanism was the development that most affected the Renaissance and its rapid spread throughout Europe. The philosophy changed the way humankind was viewed, and praised the significance of the individual. It taught the importance of logic and reason, and inspired people to use science and mathematics in their lives. Without humanism, the components that made the Renaissance what it was would not have even come into existence. Humanism greatly changed the way man viewed man, and was the single most essential development of the Renaissance, the match that lit the flame that spread throughout the darkness of medieval Europe, illuminating people as it went.