New Ideas of Humanists: Castiglione and Pico Della Mirandola - Term Paper Example

New ideas of humanists Castiglione and Pico della Mirandola Outline: A) Castiglione’s Book of the Courtier. The main idea of the book. B) Pico della Mirandola’s Oration on the Dignity of Man. The main idea of the book. C) Conclusion The humanism flourished during the period known as the Renaissance. It focused on learning the human nature and values which were deemed to be more important than religious ones. It was the era of glorifying individualism, the art revival and flourishing, and science development crowned by many new inventions and discoveries. One more particular feature of humanism was the courtier system born from the interaction between humanist philosophers and the signorial courts of the city-states. The humanists developed new ideas about the conduct of the courtiers, etiquette and manners. One of the authors who contributed greatly to the development of the conduct code of that time is Baldassare Castiglione, the most renowned humanist involved with the courtier movement. (Heather & Pirtle, 2000) Baldassare Castiglione’s Book of the Courtier (Il Cortegiano in original) is a summary of humanistic thought uniting different humanistic conflicting viewpoints like Platonist and Aristotelian and traditional and revolutionary. Humanistic extremes united into one philosophical pattern are eloquently expressed in Castiglione’s Book of the Courtier. However, the Book cannot be considered as a systemization of knowledge but rather a demonstration that every extreme point of view tend to generate the opposite one. It’s a work of a redefined humanism directed toward wisdom. This handbook of perfect courtly behaviour was based on Castiglione’s experiences at the court of Urbino, Italy and its influence extended far the boundaries of Italy leaving its impact on Europe and England. This guide of Renaissance manners focused greatly on the the ideal of the "Renaissance man" mastering a great deal of arts including orator art and dancing. As Renaissance Humanism is much concentrated on the self, The Courtier stresses the education demands of the courtier which include all kinds of skills even the ‘skill to love.’ This versatility of Renaissance gentleman was a distinguishing feature of the culture of that period. This idea is fully expressed in Castiglione's The Courtier. According to Castiglione a courtier should cultivate graceful manners in society, develop excellence in sports and arts, be expert in music, dancing and poetry. The sign of good education is the knowledge of Latin and Greek and the familiarity with literary trends. (Liu) Being a "courtesy book" or an etiquette manual, The Courtier was a book which distinguished from other books of its kind. It was not list of rules to follow but rather a reflection of the ideal society in action where teachings are presented through action and speeches. The author is “more interested in the analysis of behavioral situations and the moral problems they pose than in producing a set of specific prescriptions for social success and ethical behavior”. The book underlines the ‘basic principles underlying social interaction.’ In Il Cortegiano Castiglione shapes “the general nature of social operations as well as their moral dimension”. The readers can make their own conclusions which correspond to “particular social realities of their culture”. (Rebhorn, 1978, p.12) The major concern of the work Castiglione Courtier is ‘that of presenting a human and social ideal for its reader's imitation.” His social idealism is based on the concept of masking. He considers social activity as a role playing which suggests certain attitudes, status relationships, particular dressing, etc. That’s each role requires appropriate mask. (Rebhorn, 1978, p.14) However, Castiglione does not describe in detail what the courtier should wear or do and what one should not. He prescribes the universal rules of social behavior. The author acquaints the readers with the masking process, with different roles corresponding to different social situations and the ability to shift from role to role. (Rebhorn, 1978, p.14) He mocks at those who mechanically perform social prescriptions, getting in trap of the roles without their understanding and ability to manipulate them. Understanding of the roles brings not only social success but freedom as well. (Rebhorn, 1978, p.14) Like Castiglione, Renaissance humanist Pico della Mirandola synthesized the ideas of many currents - Neoplatonism, humanism, Aristoteleanism, Averroism and mysticism. The theme of the dignity of man in Pico’s work gets a unique dramatic and rhetorical sharpness and clarity. He presents a Neo-Platonic cosmology and anthropology in this work, modified by his knowledge of the Cabala. Central to the six days work of creation is the deification and the dignity of man which is at the same time related in the sixth chapter to each of the seven books, for man was created on the sixth day. Thus Pico supports the hexameral tradition which at the same time is mixed with new Cabalistic, Hermetic, Averroist, and Neo-Platonic ideas. (Trinkaus) Pico della Mirandola’s Oration on the Dignity of Man reflects the leading ideas including the conception of the "Great Chain of Being." Pico puts the man outside the chain but at the centre of the universe. Each creature in the chain has certain place but Man is free to find his own place. He can be an angel rising as high as one can or can be a beast descending very low. With both divine and earthly qualities Humans can become what they want to: “We have made thee neither of heaven nor of earth, neither mortal nor immortal, so that with freedom of choice... thou mayest fashion thyself in whatever shape thou shalt prefer.” (Mirandola, 1948 p. 225) That makes the man free and able to realize his own potential. The God’s purpose in creating the man was to have someone to enjoy his work and appreciate it. “When the work was finished, the Craftsman kept wishing that there were someone to ponder the plan of so great a work... therefore... he finally took thought concerning the creation of man.” (Mirandola, 1948, p. 224) The freedom of choice given to the man and his ability to act to his own discretion puts the man in the unique position in the divine order of things. It makes him unique and different from other creatures made by God. In the Oration Pico praised human powers and greatness. This view is in discrepancy with orthodox Christianity which praises the grace of God as the way to salvation. Pico rejects the view that man can enter heaven only with the help of God. However, he does acknowledge the God’s existence but at the same time he stresses on the importance to learn which leads to heaven which makes him a humanist. Pico tries to reconcile these opposing views in his unique way in the Oration. Mirandola rejects the restrictions imposed by the teachings of the astrologers who suggest that man's destiny is controlled by stars. On the other hand he believed that the man can control the heavenly bodies but not the other way round. The only restrictions are self-imposed. Pico della Mirandola believed in the unity of knowledge and dignity of man. Pico considered the human activity to be the divine expression. The later Renaissance artists continued to believe in the divinity of human activity through the usage of the intellect and creativity. In Oration on the Dignity of Man" Mirandola focuses on human capacity and intellect. Moreover, Pico is one of the first thinkers to highlight the human capacity of "freedom" which makes his ideas and Castiglione’s ideas converge. By ‘freedom’ Pico means the ability of the man to change things at its own will. Humans are free to change themselves at their will which other creatures cannot do. (Hooker, 1999) The freedom of humans distances us from animal desires and that’s what Pico wants to show and cultivate in people. He urges humans to study philosophy and theology drawing closer to God. So, according to Pico, “the dignity of human beings resides in their capacity to use their intelligence and to act as free men.” Through the exercise of freedom people can shape themselves and be what they want to be. (Norman, 2004) The influence of this teaching on the arts was enormous. The arts cannot only express the divine, but the capacity of the Man to create and transform themselves. This idea was further elaborated to the individual's free creative power dominating art and literature of the High Renaissance. (Hooker, 1999) Pico della Mirandola in his On the Dignity of Man tries to reconcile the literature and thought of the ancient world with Christian religious belief. He puts “a new slant on traditional Christian views of human nature, and more generally the Italian humanists represent a new emphasis on the value of human achievements in this life rather than seeing it simply as preparation for the life to come”. (Norman, 2004) We come to the conclusion that the humanist ideas of Castiglione and Pico della Mirandola converge at one point – their focus on human freedom to act at one’s own will. Though this idea is not new to the humanism in general, the distinguishing feature is that both authors mix many different teachings ‘in one bowl’ - Neoplatonism, Aristoteleanism, Averroism and mysticism. They try to mix together different extremes and present new vision of the human being in the universe. Through different means they come to the same conclusion that man is powerful enough to shape oneself at his own will and choose the path of its own. References Heather, Mahe and Tiana Pirtle What Is Humanism? National Humanities Institute. 2000. Hooker, Richard Study of Human Proportion. May 30, 1999 http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/REN/PICO.HTM.retr. 15 June, 2006 Liu, Henry C K The Abduction Of Modernity. Part V: The Enlightenment and modernity. http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Japan/EH12Dh02.html retr. 15 June, 2006 Mirandola, Pico della. "Oration on the Dignity of Man." The Renaissance Philosophy of Man. Ed.Cassirer, Kristeller, & Randall. 1948. Norman, Richard On Humanism. New York: Routledge, 2004. Rebhorn, Wayne A. Courtly Performances: Masking and Festivity in Castiglione's Book of the Courtier. Detroit: Wayne State University Press. 1978. Trinkaus, Charles. Renaissance Idea Of The Dignity Of Man. http://etext.virginia.edu/cgi-local/DHI/dhi.cgi?id=dv4-20 retr. 15 June, 2006 Read More