Alexander CekalaHistory of Western Philosophy: part 3
This post is going to deal with the rise of modern philosophy, which it will define as that beginning in the renaissance. This section will be divided over 3 or 4 posts.
Renaissance Philosophy
Renaissance philosophy saw a rebirth of classical culture and the humanist philosophical movement was the most powerful one during this period. This philosophical view emphasised the importance of oratory and argument, as well as drawing on the views of the ancient Greeks and Romans.
Petrarch
Petrarch is considered to be one of the very first humanists and is one of the leading figures of the renaissance. He was an Italian scholar and poet.
Petrarch was one of the figures who founded the renaissance humanist philosophy. He believed that classical culture was both morally and practically useful, although he differed from many later humanists by his continuing christianity.
He also believed that people should lead a contemplative life, which was different to some later humanists who believed an active life was the best one to lead.
Leonardo Bruni
Leonardo Bruni believed that an active life was the best one for a philosopher to lead. He translated a number of ancient sources and was one of the first humanists to support civic humanism, the combination of humanism and republicanism.
Bruni used his histories and the works of ancient philosophers to support this republican viewpoint.
Niccolo Machiavelli
Machiavelli was a political philosopher who lived in Florence. It is hard to tell exactly what his political philosophies were, as some of them were written to gain favour with a ruler. In The Prince, Machiavelli champions the cruel ruler who will stop at nothing to retain power, but in other works he supports the republican system.
His Discourses explores various forms of government, but ends up endorsing republicanism. Regardless of his intentions, Machiavelli's major contribution to political philosophy was probably the removal of morality. Previously, it had been considered a ruler must be ethical to be a good ruler, but Machiavelli shifted the focus of political philosophy on to what would help the ruler retain power and provide a stable state.
Machiavelli was an Italian nationalist.
Thomas More
More was an English Christian humanist, who attacked the claimed of Martin Luther. He also wrote the famous book Utopia, and in here, much of his philosophy is contained. This book championed the common ownership of property and the tolerance of religion, although it is hard to tell how much of the book More himself actually believed as it is a fictionalised work.
Martin Luther
Luther was an important philosopher whos ideas inspired the reformation. He wrote against a number of catholic practices including the giving of indulgences. His major belief was that salvation could be achieved through faith alone.
Luther translated a bible, and combined with the printing press, this made it easier for commoners to read and judge the book themselves. His life was spent developing and publicising his beliefs about the true form of christianity.
Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon was a renaissance philosopher who championed an inductive method of philosophy. He thought that philosophy should move from facts, to laws, always being careful not to fall pray to false beliefs, which he called idols. He also believed that philosophy and religion should be distinct.
Next
Next week I will write 3 posts, one on each of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries in western philosophy.
Adam
Renaissance Philosophy
Renaissance philosophy saw a rebirth of classical culture and the humanist philosophical movement was the most powerful one during this period. This philosophical view emphasised the importance of oratory and argument, as well as drawing on the views of the ancient Greeks and Romans.
Petrarch
Petrarch is considered to be one of the very first humanists and is one of the leading figures of the renaissance. He was an Italian scholar and poet.
Petrarch was one of the figures who founded the renaissance humanist philosophy. He believed that classical culture was both morally and practically useful, although he differed from many later humanists by his continuing christianity.
He also believed that people should lead a contemplative life, which was different to some later humanists who believed an active life was the best one to lead.
Leonardo Bruni
Leonardo Bruni believed that an active life was the best one for a philosopher to lead. He translated a number of ancient sources and was one of the first humanists to support civic humanism, the combination of humanism and republicanism.
Bruni used his histories and the works of ancient philosophers to support this republican viewpoint.
Niccolo Machiavelli
Machiavelli was a political philosopher who lived in Florence. It is hard to tell exactly what his political philosophies were, as some of them were written to gain favour with a ruler. In The Prince, Machiavelli champions the cruel ruler who will stop at nothing to retain power, but in other works he supports the republican system.
His Discourses explores various forms of government, but ends up endorsing republicanism. Regardless of his intentions, Machiavelli's major contribution to political philosophy was probably the removal of morality. Previously, it had been considered a ruler must be ethical to be a good ruler, but Machiavelli shifted the focus of political philosophy on to what would help the ruler retain power and provide a stable state.
Machiavelli was an Italian nationalist.
Thomas More
More was an English Christian humanist, who attacked the claimed of Martin Luther. He also wrote the famous book Utopia, and in here, much of his philosophy is contained. This book championed the common ownership of property and the tolerance of religion, although it is hard to tell how much of the book More himself actually believed as it is a fictionalised work.
Martin Luther
Luther was an important philosopher whos ideas inspired the reformation. He wrote against a number of catholic practices including the giving of indulgences. His major belief was that salvation could be achieved through faith alone.
Luther translated a bible, and combined with the printing press, this made it easier for commoners to read and judge the book themselves. His life was spent developing and publicising his beliefs about the true form of christianity.
Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon was a renaissance philosopher who championed an inductive method of philosophy. He thought that philosophy should move from facts, to laws, always being careful not to fall pray to false beliefs, which he called idols. He also believed that philosophy and religion should be distinct.
Next
Next week I will write 3 posts, one on each of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries in western philosophy.
Adam
