Humanism
Definition
Humanism is a philosophical stance that emphasizes human values, potential, and agency over religious or supernatural beliefs. It emerged during the Renaissance as scholars started focusing on studying classical texts from Greece and Rome for their own sake rather than as support for theological arguments.
Analogy
Imagine you're at a party where everyone's talking about one celebrity guest who isn't there yet (the divine). Then someone decides to shift focus onto appreciating all those who are already present (humans) - their talents, stories, potential. That's what humanists did during Renaissance!
Related terms
Renaissance: A period in European history marking the transition from medieval times to modernity characterized by significant cultural changes including humanist thinking.
Secularism: The principle of separation between governmental institutions and religious organizations; often associated with humanist thought because both prioritize worldly matters over spiritual ones.
Classicism: Aesthetic attitudes derived from ancient Greek and Roman sources; appreciated by humanists for its emphasis on human potential and achievement.
"Humanism" appears in:
Subjects (1)
Study guides (2)
Practice Questions (19)
What did humanism emphasize during the Renaissance period?
How did Humanism primarily influence politics during the Renaissance period?
Who is known as "the father of Humanism" during the Italian Renaissance?
Which philosophy significantly influenced humanism during the Italian Renaissance?
How did humanism influence political structures during the Italian Renaissance?
How did the intellectual movement of humanism impact social structures during the Italian Renaissance?
Whose perspective is primarily represented in Petrarch’s writings about humanism during the Italian Renaissance?
How did the intellectual movement of the Italian Renaissance contribute to the development of humanism in 18th century Enlightenment philosophy?
How did the emergence of humanism in the Italian Renaissance challenge traditional gender roles?
How did humanism contribute to the development of the Northern Renaissance?
What differentiates the Northern Renaissance's humanism from that of the Italian Renaissance?
What characterized the philosophical transition from Medieval Scholasticism to Humanism during the Northern Renaissance?
What principle of humanism exhibited in the Northern Renaissance persisted into the modern era?
What effect did humanism have on intellectual thought during the Renaissance period?
What was a significant consequence of the Renaissance emphasis on humanism in Europe?
How did humanism impact societal values during the Renaissance?
Which Year did Leonardo da Vinci paint The Last Supper, reflecting the influences of humanism and secularism during Renaissance ?
How did humanism influence art during the Renaissance?
Which aspect did humanism, a key intellectual movement in Renaissance, emphasize on?
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