We explain what humanism is, its types, and how this philosophical movement emerged. We also explain what humanists were like. Please read other MTV articles for more information. If you share it, it will be of little help to us.
What is Humanism?
Humanism was a philosophical, artistic, and cultural movement that emerged in Europe in the 14th and 15th centuries. It was based on the integration of certain values and practices recovered from Classical Antiquity. Some of its most famous precursors and representatives are Dante Alighieri, Francesco Petrarca, and Giovanni Boccaccio.
Also known as Renaissance humanism (although Renaissance humanism was only a period within humanism), this movement was characterized by anthropocentric thinking, which placed the human person at the center of its concerns, motivations, and desires. In this sense, humanism opposed the medieval theocentrism that operated around the idea of God and monotheistic morality. As in Greco-Roman culture, the study of the sciences was privileged, with special interest in all disciplines that aimed to develop human values.
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In a more general sense, any study that focuses on and dedicates itself to the reading and exegesis (interpretation) of classical literature is usually considered humanist. Today, we call “humanist” any interest in human values.
However, many thinkers from various disciplines note this difficulty and argue that the term should be used with caution, to protect the specificity of its meaning. However, we can call humanism a variety of thought, such as that of Werner Jaeger, Erich Fromm, Eramus von Rotterdam, and Jean-Paul Sartre.
How did humanism emerge?
Humanism originated in 15th-century Italy, influenced by 14th-century authors such as Francesco Petrarca and Giovanni Boccaccio, who advocated a return to the study of Greco-Roman ideas and culture. This period of humanism, in particular, is known as Renaissance humanism.
Certain historical events contributed to the proliferation of this thought. One of these was the appearance of the printing press in 1450, invented by Johannes Gutenberg. Thanks to the printing press, the equitable and fair distribution of academic texts, previously the preserve of ecclesiastical power, was made easier and cheaper.
Another important factor was the creation of large universities (such as Alcalá, Henares, and Leuven), from which critical studies of various classical works, such as the Aristotelian corpus and the work of Plato, proliferated. Humanist ideas and critical thinking found a place there from which to develop.
Humanism established itself as a gateway to the various branches of knowledge usually reserved for the ecclesiastical canon. Studia humanitatis (humanist studies) consisted of a comprehensive education in all aspects of humankind, always based on the reading of various classical sources. Translations were made of many lost works or works only conversant in Latin, which allowed for the in-depth development of various branches of knowledge such as rhetoric, moral philosophy, history, and grammar.
At the same time, the emergence of patronage (as a form of intellectual financing) and the emigration of Byzantine scholars, along with the rise of Pope Nicholas V, simultaneously allowed for the development of critical thought.
From these active and diverse beginnings, the idea of a humanist, progressive, and liberal thought developed, seeking intellectual fulfillment and ideological freedom for humankind beyond the pressures of the Church and the political institutions of the time.
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Characteristics of Humanism
- He developed an anthropocentric notion of the world and set aside the theocentric idea that had governed the last centuries of history.
- He proposed a much purer model of knowledge than that existing in the Middle Ages.
- He defended the idea of using human reason as the driving force for the search for answers and setting aside beliefs and dogmas of faith.
- He reformulated the educational model that existed until then, gave importance to the study of Latin and Greek classics, and opened new schools that promoted the study of other languages and classical literature.
- He developed sciences such as grammar, rhetoric, literature, moral philosophy, and history, closely linked to the human spirit.
- He sought to eliminate all closed systems that did not allow for a multiplicity of perspectives of thought. It was believed that with this change, the total development of humankind would be achieved: physical and spiritual, aesthetic and religious.
Some Representatives of Humanism
Humanists sought to restore the human being to the value they believed he deserved. Unlike the ideas of the Middle Ages, humanist principles ceased to view humankind from a theological perspective and shifted their thinking to a radical anthropocentrism.
Secular and religious thinkers sought answers to their questions about the world in ancient thinkers. They did not invalidate religion, but rather considered it to have a civil function and to be a tool for maintaining peace in society.
Among the most prominent scholars of this period are:
Leonardo Bruni (1370–1444)
An Italian historian and politician, he played a prominent role in rescuing the classics of Greco-Roman literature.
Giovanni Pico della Mirandola (1463–1494)
An Italian philosopher and thinker, his most representative work, “The 900 Theses,” is a compendium of the most resonant philosophical ideas existing up to that time.
Erasmus of Rotterdam (1466–1536)
A Dutch philosopher and theologian, he was a critic of the institutions, the power of the time, and the abuses of members of the Catholic Church to which he belonged. In his “adages” (proverbs), he defended freedom of thought and Greco-Roman traditions. He also sought to ensure that all people could have access to the Gospel and, with it, to the teachings of Jesus Christ. His work “In Praise of Folly” had a great impact.
Thomas More (1478 – 1535)
English theologian and politician, he dedicated much of his life to the practice of law and the study of Greco-Roman theology and culture. “Utopia” was one of his famous works, written entirely in Latin. He was beheaded in 1535 for refusing to sign the act that established King Henry VIII as leader of the Anglican Church.
Juan Luis Vives (1492 – 1540)
Spanish philosopher, he was a pioneer of the idea of implementing reforms in the academic field and the need for social assistance to the most needy. He sought to adapt classical works to make them accessible to students.
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Types of Humanism
Within humanism, and depending on its starting point, there were (and are) different expressions and schools of humanist thought.
Religious Humanism
It is a religious movement that seeks to achieve human fulfillment through a framework that integrates humanistic ideas with various religious practices and beliefs. Auguste Comte’s positivism can be thought of as a form of religious humanism. Christian humanism is also a form of religious humanism: its specificity lies in the integration of humanism into a monotheistic belief system, such as Christianity.
Evolutionary Humanism
This is a school of thought that oscillates between philosophy, epistemology, and anthropology and places the human being at the center of the world and of all philosophical or anthropological theories.
Secular Humanism
This is a movement based on certain philosophical currents and the scientific method to discard supernatural explanations, such as creationism, that exist for the origin of the universe and humanity. It is also known as secular or atheistic humanism. It is a branch of humanism that takes different philosophical and cultural elements from human history and presents them together according to the area in which it develops and the political affiliation to which it adheres.
Marxist Humanism
This is a branch of Marxism that studies the early writings of Carl Marx from a humanist perspective. Its work focuses mostly on the Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts of 1844, where Marx expounds his theory of alienation.
Humanism and the Renaissance
The Renaissance was a historical period that extended from the 14th to the 16th century. It sought to leave the Middle Ages behind and give way to the Modern Age.
This period was characterized by great artistic and scientific development, as well as social, political, and economic changes that sought to bury the vestiges of the Middle Ages (which were considered a dark period) and give rise to the development of the bourgeoisie.
Humanism was an intellectual movement that developed during this historical period and promoted an anthropocentric view of the world, abandoning the theocentric tradition and highlighting the capabilities of humankind and human reason. It also sought to rescue the traditions and works of Greco-Roman culture.
Importance and Impact of Humanism
Humanism is considered one of the predominant ideologies of the Renaissance. His anthropocentric ideas represented a paradigm shift that focused on the development of human qualities and established rationality as the way of understanding the world.
The importance of humanism lies in the recovery and dissemination of Greco-Roman traditions. During this period, translations of great classical works were made, allowing them to be accessed by a larger portion of the population.
In addition, it promoted educational reforms to make knowledge more accessible, valued humanistic studies, and contributed to the development of sciences such as rhetoric, literature, and grammar. Humanism is notable for having spread values such as tolerance, independence, and free will.
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References
All the information we offer is supported by authoritative and up-to-date bibliographic sources, which ensure reliable content in line with our editorial principles.
Kristeller, P. O. (1982). Renaissance Thought and Its Sources. FCE.
- Heidegger, M., & Girardot, R. G. (2000). Letter on Humanism. Alianza Editorial.
- Sloterdijk, P. (2000). Norms for the Human Park: A Response to Heidegger’s Letter on Humanism (Vol. 11). Siruela.
- Levinas, E. (1993). Humanism of the Other Man. 21st Century.
- Thomas More in the Santo Tomás Moro Foundation.
- Humanism in Encyclopedia Britannica.
- Humanism Definition, Concept, origin, types – concepto.de
