Transcript In Praise of Folly

THE NORTHERN RENAISSANCE
* less dramatic - more of a blend of old and new ideas
*more religious in nature than Italian Renaissance
*included the regions of present-day England,
France, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland
*Printing press helped spread Italian writings northward
SIMILAR TO THE ITALIAN RENAISSANCE:
Sought to develop human powers to understand and
control physical nature
Emphasized the emancipation of humanity’s limitless
potentialities
MYSTICISM
DEF - Belief that the individual could, in perfect
solitude, communicate directly with God
There was no need for
speech, community, church,
or priest - a philosophy that
threatened the church
LAY RELIGION
Church was viewed with skepticism - as an institution
out to keep its influence and power
Like mystics, they felt there was no need to look to a
self-interested clergyman for spiritual guidance
Founded organizations that provided spiritual
guidance - early religious schools outside the clergy
CHRISTIAN HUMANISTS - Goal - to deepen
understanding of Christianity & restore its vitality.
UNIVERSITIES THRIVED IN GERMANY - shunned by
humanists as too rigid, they nonetheless were centers
of medicine, law, and theology
ECONOMY - trade thrived, towns increased in size
and number
Gutenburg - invented moveable type - printed works
FUGGERS - wealthy banking family of Germany rivaled Medici’s of Florence
Copernicus - Polish astronomer - Heliocentric theory o
solar system
PARACELSUS - early prototype of medical scholar still mixed with occult
DR. FAUSTUS - a historical/legendary character probably a scholar of late 15th century - believed to
have sold his soul to the devil to acquire his secret
knowledge and power
Marlowe (Eng) & later Goethe (Ger) wrote stories
based on the legend
ERASMUS
Greatest northern humanist
- Clergyman, scholar, supporter
of
Greek ideal of moderation
- Criticized church
corruption, supported
Catholic doctrine
-Courted by popes,
kings, wealthy for council
In Praise of Folly – famous work criticized
Church corruption
Sir Thomas More - England
Utopia - his book about an ideal, peaceful society
- Criticized politics, religion, society
- executed by Henry VIII for
criticism of his break with
Rome