The Cambridge Companion to Renaissance Humanism

by Jill Kraye (Editor)

Beginning as a movement based on the recovery of ancient texts, and archaeological study, humanism turned into a dynamic cultural program, influencing almost every facet of the intellectual life of the Renaissance. The fourteen original essays in this volume deal with all aspects.

Genres: History, Philosophy, Renaissance, Nonfiction, Literary Criticism, 16th Century, Reference

340 pages, Paperback

First published February 23, 1996

Reviews

[Daniel Rothwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favourite chapters were 'Humanism and the origins of modern political thought', 'Philologists and philosophers', and 'The new science and the traditions of humanism'.

The first, which treats the development of political thought in relation to the main historical events in Italy, leading to a culmination in Thomas More and Machiavelli. Machiavelli's "complex relation to the previous tradition of humanist thought" is is interesting in lieu of the contrasts allowed to be developed by the treatment of the minor humanist figures of the 15th century. And likewise the famous "central problem of interpreting Utopia" (in "deciding how far More intends us to admire the portrait of Utopian society sketched by Hythloday") is given ample weight by said treatment.

The chapter on philology in philosophy acts as a broad treatment of the development of philosophy through the relevant period (with a somewhat pithy ending on Descartes rendering the philological method obsolete with the Cogito). Philology was a major occupation for the humanists and there are many tasty tidbits and quotations here.

'The new science and the traditions of humanism' is mainly in fact about the effects of humanism on education - especially after the traditonal period of humanism (ending in 1600 as the narrative goes). The intent and style of (latin) textbooks, the selection of classical texts, and the eventual calcification into 'humanist learning' with the usage of commonplace books etc. etc. Many other interesting processes and details here.

[Darkwhispersdale · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book enough I ended up purchasing my own copy. A collection of fourteen different essays covering different issues concerning Humanism. My favourite essays are Philologists and Philosophers by Jill Kraye and Classical Scholarship by Michael D Reeve. From reading those essays I developed a keen interest in translation movements and medieval philosophy which was surprising because I had originally read the book to understand some of the intellectual background about renaissance art and literature.