Humanism in the Renaissance

Paper Summary:

The paper looks at what existed before humanism and the Renaissance and discusses how humanism and the Renaissance influenced religious thought. The paper explains that humanism was what allowed man to look into himself for answers and it was this looking inward that produced many Renaissance writers and philosophers who expressed personal opinions about the nature of the human and humanity's role in the universe.

From the Paper:

"The Renaissance worldview can be characterized by a growing humanistic orientation. While we can trace the Renaissance to Italy, its ideas spread throughout Europe and is most recognized as an artistic movement. Montaigne, Michelangelo, and Leonardo di Vinci are just a few names that come to mind when we think of the Renaissance. The Renaissance, however, is more than art - it is an entire movement that was heavily influenced by humanism. In fact, humanism is the driving force behind much Renaissance thinking and, as a result, is extremely significant. Humanism, the movement, opened the eyes of mankind to look upon himself for answers and inspiration."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Cameron, Euan. Early Modern Europe. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999.
• Dresden, Sem. Humanism in the Renaissance. New York: World University Press, 1968.
• Todorov, Tzvetan. Imperfect Garden: The Legacy of Humanism. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002.

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