Post by Imorta Thaw on Sept 17, 2008 14:34:19 GMT -8
answer to "What was the new conception of mankind" which emerged during the Renaissance, and how does it compare to contemporary views of mankind. "
Turned in this moring. Written last night/ this morning.
Tatiana Kuzovleva
Mr. Jansen
AP European History; Period one
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
New Views
The phrase “Renaissance” is both appropriate and misleading. Referring to the time period when the classics were rediscovered, it applies only to the educated higher classes. The peasants lived through the Renaissance with little to no change, for what good is an increased stress on learning and classical traditions when you can neither read, afford books, nor have time to sit around indulging in learning whilst your fields rot? Thus, while the nobility turned to humanistic ideas, the peasantry remained in the Middle Ages, possessing none of the new learning that the higher classes could embrace. A completely new conception of mankind spread to the wealthier houses. Perhaps the most important change was that men were no longer expected to focus their entire being on reaching heaven. Instead, it became socially accepted to enjoy the best of this life. The great philosophers refuted the concept of fate and predestination, and thus gave men a greater freedom in their choices. The nobility strove to improve their minds, for the general view that the world could be understood with the use of reason became prevalent. Also, with the idea that a gentleman should be well rounded in all subjects, came the blurring of the line between the many areas of learning.
During the Medieval Ages, most nobles focused their resources on gaining power in this world and reaching the next. Their fate was said to be predetermined, and all they had to do was work toward entering heaven or hell. Even this choice was mostly up to providence. During the Renaissance, this “image of Fortune with a wheel, seizing men and dragging them along, sometimes raising them, sometimes throwing them down into the abyss, [gave] way to the depiction of Fortune with a sailboat. And this [boat] is not controlled by Fortune alone—man himself is steering it”* this idea, though widespread in our time, was revolutionary in the fifteenth century. It meant that wile the medieval man relied on God for salvation, a Renaissance man could reach heaven through reason and on his own merit. Man ceased to be a passive observer, self-denying, and became an active participant, self-affirming.
Another revolutionary concept that appeared during the Renaissance and is still prevalent in our culture is the ability of man to use reason to understand the world. Before, the only way to appreciate God’s creation was through faith. This idea gave way to the use of the mathematics and reason. With this change in idealism, faith was no longer a necessary part of a humanist’s beliefs. Philosophers strove to describe the world from the mathematician’s point of view. Therefore, faith was no longer a way of thought, but a personal devotion. It did not conflict with reason, because the two were so inertly separate. With this realization came the increase of learning and the stress on education. Reason slowly took the place of faith, and man no longer blindly followed where the church led.
According to the Britannica, a Renaissance man is one who “embraced all knowledge,” and “develops his capabilities as fully as possible.” He was expected to be both gentleman, and scientist, both wise and elegant. He had to be well rounded, and well versed in all subjects. From this plethora of knowledge came the connections between art and science. During the Medieval
*Cassirer, Ernst. The Individual and the Cosmos in Renaissance Philosophy. Minneapolis: Dover Publications, Incorporated, 2003. pg 77.
Ages, and again today, art and science were considered completely separate. During the Renaissance, however, men began to look at science though the artist’s perspective and at art with the scientist’s steady eye. The change in art is readily apparent. The previously 2D creations gained perspective and depth as well as proportion. In every day life the idea of measurement became more and more prevailing as new technology, such as the clock, was developed.
The use of a word meaning ‘rebirth’ to describer this time period is perhaps an exaggeration. The lives of most people during the Renaissance were no different from those of the Medieval Ages. The man worked and brought money into the household, and the woman took care of the rest. It was only the men of the wealthier middle and noble classes that experienced any change. The process of separating from the church was begun during this time period, and many advances were made in science and art. These changes are greatly felt and appreciated in this century, but one can hardly call a spurt of change for a tiny fraction of the population a complete rebirth.
Turned in this moring. Written last night/ this morning.
Tatiana Kuzovleva
Mr. Jansen
AP European History; Period one
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
New Views
The phrase “Renaissance” is both appropriate and misleading. Referring to the time period when the classics were rediscovered, it applies only to the educated higher classes. The peasants lived through the Renaissance with little to no change, for what good is an increased stress on learning and classical traditions when you can neither read, afford books, nor have time to sit around indulging in learning whilst your fields rot? Thus, while the nobility turned to humanistic ideas, the peasantry remained in the Middle Ages, possessing none of the new learning that the higher classes could embrace. A completely new conception of mankind spread to the wealthier houses. Perhaps the most important change was that men were no longer expected to focus their entire being on reaching heaven. Instead, it became socially accepted to enjoy the best of this life. The great philosophers refuted the concept of fate and predestination, and thus gave men a greater freedom in their choices. The nobility strove to improve their minds, for the general view that the world could be understood with the use of reason became prevalent. Also, with the idea that a gentleman should be well rounded in all subjects, came the blurring of the line between the many areas of learning.
During the Medieval Ages, most nobles focused their resources on gaining power in this world and reaching the next. Their fate was said to be predetermined, and all they had to do was work toward entering heaven or hell. Even this choice was mostly up to providence. During the Renaissance, this “image of Fortune with a wheel, seizing men and dragging them along, sometimes raising them, sometimes throwing them down into the abyss, [gave] way to the depiction of Fortune with a sailboat. And this [boat] is not controlled by Fortune alone—man himself is steering it”* this idea, though widespread in our time, was revolutionary in the fifteenth century. It meant that wile the medieval man relied on God for salvation, a Renaissance man could reach heaven through reason and on his own merit. Man ceased to be a passive observer, self-denying, and became an active participant, self-affirming.
Another revolutionary concept that appeared during the Renaissance and is still prevalent in our culture is the ability of man to use reason to understand the world. Before, the only way to appreciate God’s creation was through faith. This idea gave way to the use of the mathematics and reason. With this change in idealism, faith was no longer a necessary part of a humanist’s beliefs. Philosophers strove to describe the world from the mathematician’s point of view. Therefore, faith was no longer a way of thought, but a personal devotion. It did not conflict with reason, because the two were so inertly separate. With this realization came the increase of learning and the stress on education. Reason slowly took the place of faith, and man no longer blindly followed where the church led.
According to the Britannica, a Renaissance man is one who “embraced all knowledge,” and “develops his capabilities as fully as possible.” He was expected to be both gentleman, and scientist, both wise and elegant. He had to be well rounded, and well versed in all subjects. From this plethora of knowledge came the connections between art and science. During the Medieval
*Cassirer, Ernst. The Individual and the Cosmos in Renaissance Philosophy. Minneapolis: Dover Publications, Incorporated, 2003. pg 77.
Ages, and again today, art and science were considered completely separate. During the Renaissance, however, men began to look at science though the artist’s perspective and at art with the scientist’s steady eye. The change in art is readily apparent. The previously 2D creations gained perspective and depth as well as proportion. In every day life the idea of measurement became more and more prevailing as new technology, such as the clock, was developed.
The use of a word meaning ‘rebirth’ to describer this time period is perhaps an exaggeration. The lives of most people during the Renaissance were no different from those of the Medieval Ages. The man worked and brought money into the household, and the woman took care of the rest. It was only the men of the wealthier middle and noble classes that experienced any change. The process of separating from the church was begun during this time period, and many advances were made in science and art. These changes are greatly felt and appreciated in this century, but one can hardly call a spurt of change for a tiny fraction of the population a complete rebirth.
