Humanism and the Humanistic - Essay Example

Humanism and the Humanistic In Art Humanism is defined as an ethical and philosophical view that mainly focuses on the agency and value of human beings, and primarily advocates for evidence and critical thinking rather than faith. However, the meaning of humanism has shifted, fluctuated due to the successive intellectual groups that have identified themselves with it over time. In the modern age, the term humanism tends to refer to secularism or a non-atheistic view which relies on science rather than faith to understand the environment and the world as a whole.

Thus, a humanistic person bases his judgments and decisions on scientific explanations instead of relying on faith. On the other hand, humanism and humanistic in art refer to art that places the study of human nature as its primary interest. Additionally, its ideals are often secular (they are not religious).Learning and art in the Middle Ages (3rd to the 13th centuries) was mainly centered on religion and the church. However, people became more secular at the onset of the 14th century. Thus, they started thinking less and less about God, religion, and the church.

As such, they commenced thinking more and more about themselves, their daily lives and surroundings. The study of medieval and ancient Roman and Greek writings on the government, art, philosophy and scientific matters partly influenced the development of humanism. When people and scholars commenced studying these writings in the Renaissance period, their focus and interests shifted from the traditional fields of study such as medicine, law, and religion. They, therefore, became interested in scientific fields and areas such as the natural world, astronomy, biology, and science.

Artists, musicians, composers and writers now started creating and designing their work with themes that were not religious. Furthermore, to focus on themselves and their lives, writers authored memoirs and autobiographies about themselves while artists routinely signed their work.The emergence and rise of humanism can be naturally viewed in paintings that were done by artists during the Renaissance period. In the middle ages, before the rise of humanism, artists used to employ a hieratic scale that made saints or religious figures appear larger than the non-religious figures.

As humanism grew, artists started making less important or ordinary figures be the same size as the religious figures. Moreover, saints or holy figures started looking more like common/ordinary people.Humanistic art in the Renaissance forced saints and religious figures to occupy the same landscape as common people (Hulme 46). Before, paintings of saints reflected them to be in heaven with their heads under a circle of light. Humanism transformed this aspect. Subsequently, most artistic paintings adopted the earth instead of heaven due to the humanistic influence.

People daily express and possess humanist thoughts while engaging in their everyday activities. Although some people believe in religion or god, they make thoughtful, open minded and humane decisions backed by evidence. Additionally, they fight against religious bigotry and ignorance. As a result, many of great artists, scientists, moral thinkers and philosophers essentially had humanist characteristics, because they challenged and did not accept religious and traditional beliefs. On the contrary, they made independent decisions based on facts and scientific explanations.

Humanism and a humanist personality make the progress and study of human nature as their main objective. Consequently, humanism and humanistic art shy away from religious explanations but embrace scientific explanations.Work CitedHulme, Thomas Ernest. Speculations: essays on humanism and the philosophy of art. Vol. 3. Psychology Press, 2000. Print