Humanism

 The most dominant theme of the Italian Renaissance was humanism. This was a term that was used by the 19th century historians to describe the concerns of the Renaissance thinkers who turned their attention and focused upon the dignity of man and his privileged position in this world.

This humanist movement was based on Neo-platonic philosophy which emphasised the primacy of human values over those of feudal and ecclesiastical institutions. The humanists’ believed that the human mind was capable of thinking for itself without relying on divine authority and traditional institutions.

In brief, humanism made man the measure of all things in society. However, this new focus on man and the world should not be seen as a loss of faith in God. It was in fact a critical reassessment of the ideas of medieval theologians. Petrarch, Boccaccio and Dante were the forerunners of the Renaissance ideas which gained ground over a period of time.

Humanism was the basic source of inspiration for all the cultural changes of the Renaissance, heavily influencing art, literature, history, and political ideas. Humanist scholars devoted themselves to Studia Humanitas which included the study of rhetoric, grammar,poetry, and ethics. Geographically, humanism originated in Italy spreading through the peninsula from its original centre in Florence. Neo-Platonism emerged in fifteenth-century Italy.

Initially, it was a philosophical movement deriving its inspiration from Plato’s Republic which was in marked contrast to the medieval form of theology and philosophy known as scholasticism. The aim of humanists was to prepare man to take his place in society. The objective was not to make man a highly trained scholar, but rather to develop correct social values and right forms of expression.

Humanism gave importance to the pursuit of worldly concerns and endeavors. It stood for a new way of life that accepted the existence of god, but stood for a direct connection between man and god. 

Subcribe on Youtube - IGNOU SERVICE

For PDF copy of Solved Assignment

WhatsApp Us - 9113311883(Paid)