StudentShare
Contact Us
Sign In / Sign Up for FREE
Search
Go to advanced search...
Free

Humanism and the Arts - Essay Example

Cite this document
Summary
Humanists put enormous emphasis on the promotion of a new educational curriculum and mindset. The essay "Humanism and the Arts" would be an attempt to investigate the development and history of humanism, nature of humanism and relation of humanism with arts. …
Download full paper File format: .doc, available for editing
GRAB THE BEST PAPER92.5% of users find it useful
Humanism and the Arts
Read Text Preview

Extract of sample "Humanism and the Arts"

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
Cite this document
  • APA
  • MLA
  • CHICAGO
(“Humanism and the Arts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words”, n.d.)
Retrieved from https://studentshare.org/culture/1567474-humanism-and-the-arts
(Humanism and the Arts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 Words)
https://studentshare.org/culture/1567474-humanism-and-the-arts.
“Humanism and the Arts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 Words”, n.d. https://studentshare.org/culture/1567474-humanism-and-the-arts.
  • Cited: 0 times

CHECK THESE SAMPLES OF Humanism and the Arts

The Posthuman Condition by Bill McKibben

Bill McKibben is a very strong critic of trans-humanism and has argued on the possible socio economic adversities that may occur in societies whereby disparities and gaps amongst the rich and the poor will start increasing rapidly.... Visual arts and Film Studies (The Posthuman Condition by Bill McKibben) (27.... 1) It cannot be denied that because of the closure of the humanist approaches and their clarification in terms of the advantaged spaces as well as awareness of the mind, post humanism is now being considered with a lot of both enthusiasm as well as concerns....
4 Pages (1000 words) Essay

ART AND RENAISSSANCE HUMANISM

Name Class Professor Date Christian Iconographies in The Girlhood of Mary Virgin I.... Dante Gabriel Rossetti's The Girlhood of Mary Virgin The artwork The Girlhood of Mary Virgin was Dante Gabriel Rossetti's first debut on oil painting.... It was first shown in a free exhibition at the Hyde Park Corner Gallery in London gallery in March of 1849....
3 Pages (750 words) Essay

Planet of the Apes: a Lesson in Manners and Humanity

KarissaSjawaldy RELS1260 Professor Winborne February 19 2013 Midterm Research Paper Planet of the Apes–A Lesson in Manners and Humanity Planet of the Apes is a classic movie of 1968, based on the concept of a planet ruled by the Apes and humans serve as their servants.... hellip; The movie is based on the ruling class, which is further divided into sub-classes and it presents a sketch of a wee-knit society, where humans are hunted for sport, used for manual labor, scientific experimentation or executed out-rightly....
14 Pages (3500 words) Essay

Humanism and religion in the Medieval Era

It is fitted on such programs of common aid between connected humanities in three (3) principal ways: first, in the course of the analytical disciplines in philosophical and of aesthetics linguistics; second, by involvement to the history of ideas; and third, in its analysis and criticism about human being's moral and speculative ideals which are basically expressed in literature and the arts.... The evolution of exploratory thought in the Muslim world scored a considerable enhancement of the philosophical tradition of late Antiquity (Minneapolis Institute of arts, 2008)....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

Classicism in The Titanic

In this paper, we take a particular look at the concepts of symmetry, humanism and realism in our analysis of the movie Titanic.... Classic art is distinguished by clarity, order, balance, unity, symmetry and dignity" (World Wide arts Resources, 2009).... The Reality of Class Struggle and sinfulness Realism as expressed in visual arts and literature is a depiction of subjects as they live and appear in their ordinary lives, "without embellishment or interpretation", thus in revealing the reality, may actually be ugly or sordid (Wikimedia Foundations, Inc, 2009)....
4 Pages (1000 words) Movie Review

Answer the question

This included a wide variety of arts and performances, but could also change in a moment at the whim of the lord.... humanism was a return to the ancient knowledge and philosophy of the Greeks and Romans.... He brought the ideas of humanism into the Christian doctrines, reconciling the two approaches in such a way so as to inspire more sincere worship among parishioners, giving birth to what is now known as Christian humanism....
2 Pages (500 words) Essay

The Essence of Humanism Seen Through the Villa Rotunda

When it comes to arts, the humanists believe that an artist should reflect the perfection and balance that he found in different creatures of nature.... He has designed twenty villas in Venetian Mainland during his lifetime and almost all of them are regarded as beautiful example of renaissance arts; however, the villa rotunda possesses a distinguished position among all of his works and it has been regarded as the finest and subtle artwork of Palladio that is alive even after centuries (Howard and Deborah, 1980, p224)....
10 Pages (2500 words) Essay

Renaissance Understandings of Humankind

Renaissance understanding of humankind is multi-faceted, considering that different individuals have different understanding of the Renaissance of humankind.... However, while critically assessing the different understanding, it is fundamental to start with the understanding of… The Renaissance understandings of humankind by Pico, centers on the concept of freedom, as the major factor that differentiates man from the rest of the creatures The aspects of sharp senses, power of reason, and high level of intelligence, as presented under the Oration On the Dignity of Man also seen as the manifesto to the Renaissance, as the aspects that put mankind in a unique category from the rest of the creatures, owing the fact that these characteristics of mankind serves as the bridge between the lower cadre of life which consists of God's creatures, and the higher cadre consisting of God and all that is in heaven (Mirandola, 1965 p3)....
8 Pages (2000 words) Essay
sponsored ads
We use cookies to create the best experience for you. Keep on browsing if you are OK with that, or find out how to manage cookies.
Contact Us