Humanism and Reform Exam 2

The essay (Montaigne)

• Formal term coined by Montaigne

• Means “attempt” in French - essai

Context of Montaigne’s essays

• He linked pagan and Christian antiquity with the modern era

• Didn’t regard ancient philosophers/philosophy as a whole very highly

• Most worlds that are observed in literature are distorted mirrors of the present - this is clear in his writings

• Age of Mannerism (1520-1600) - anti-Renaissance norms, belief in human depravity

Barbarism (Montaigne)

• cultural relativism - each man calls barbaric what is not his own practice

Primitivism (Montaigne)

• respect and understanding for other cultures, admiration for their customs and motives

Summary of On Cannibals

• don’t judge other cultures or customs just because incongruent

• recipe for a utopia: religion, housing, dancing, food + drink, etc.

• Pitfalls of French society that he identifies via the barbarians: submission to a “child” king, allowance of poverty for society’s sake

• The worth and value of a man is in his heart and will

• Simplicity is plentiful - no conquest

Comparison of Bacon and Montaigne

• Bacon: methodical, academic, organized, succinct

• Montaigne: rambling, unorganized

• Montaigne is personal + introspective, Bacon is practical + analytical

• Bacon emphasizes morals + ethics to a greater extent

Definition of humanism in the Renaissance

• not designating a single philosophy, but rather a scholarly orientation in which each individual differs

Context of Bacon

• His parents were in the court of Queen Elizabeth, he was in the house of Commons

• He was a British empiricist - knowledge is to be acquired, tested, applied

Summary of On Studies (Bacon)

• 3 purposes of study - delight (private enjoyment), ornament (public discourse), ability (discernment)

• bad uses of literature: sloth, affectation, humor, judgement

• read selectively + know what you’re reading for - studies are not passive

• any ailment of the mind can be cured with a specific discipline of study

Summary of On Plantations (Bacon)

• plantations = colonies → this is a counterpiece to on Cannibals (Montaigne vs. Bacon - French vs. English)

• plan for stable structures, know what resources are useful + where to put them

• aim for sustainability rather than profit, don’t pursue too many uncertainties

• Bacon wants to change native culture + take indigenous people to the new world

Bacon’s idea of knowledge

• acquired, tested, applied

• it is power

• advances human affairs / improves society

Bondage of the Will: Context

• published by Martin Luther 1525

• argues human will is enslaved to sin & incapable of choosing God on its own

• salvation dependant on grace

• response to On the Freedom of the Will by Erasmus (humans cooperate w/ God)

• time of heavy conflict

Bondage of the Will: Key aspects

• definition of free will = whether humans cooperate w/ divine grace

• interpretation of biblical passages

• sovereignty & foreknowledge of God

• Christian critique of skepticism

• perspicuity = inherent clarity of the Bible

• grace

Pamphlet wars

• the “pamphlet wars” occurred between prominent religious figures during the Reformation. They included harsh publications that explain Luther’s vehement tone

TULIP

T - total depravity

U- unconditional election

L - limited atonement

I - irresistible grace

P - perseverance of the saints

Context to Luther’s “On Secular Authority”

• Age of Exploration was simultaneous with the Reformation

• It was dedicated to the Duke of Saxony debating whether Christians needs secular government

Summary of Luther’s “On Secular Authority”

• 2 kingdoms: secular and spiritual

• Secular authority is necessary because everyone is sinful and it is difficult to differentiate between the two kingdoms

• Secular authority can bring about external punishment and protect life + liberty

• Secular authority can’t rule over the soul

Luther’s definition of conscience

• free decision is given by love and by the law of nature, of which the reason is full but out of the books come vague judgement

Context of Luther’s “Appeal to the Ruling Class'“

• written to the German ruling class - still not the impoverished, he does not have as much sympathy for them as we might think

• It touches on relationships between the nobility and the church by proposing reforms and ways the Roman Catholic church should be held accountable

Summary of Luther’s “Appeal to the Ruling Class”

• 3 Walls:

1) Improper perception of secular authority

2) Interpretation of Scripture solely to the Pope

3) Inability for any entity outside the papacy to call councils

• Recommendations for Reform:

1) Financial reform

2) Calling councils/regional authority

3) Secular matters are not deferred to Rome

4) Less emphasis on stale doctrine and religious practice

5) Rejecting dry scholasticism

Luther’s appeal was made to the ruling class because his interests were just as institutional and political as they were religious