6 main CHARACTERISTICS of the RENAISSANCE philosophy

In today's class we are going to study the characteristics of Renaissance philosophy. An intellectual current that emerged in the cities in northern Italy (Milan, Florence and Venice) in the XV century and that spread throughout Europe in the 16th century, as predominant and groundbreaking thinking with medieval theses. In addition, Renaissance philosophy was directly linked to the birth of Humanism, which gave rise to the secularization of thought and the expansion of reason, philosophy and science. Do you want to know more about the characteristics of Renaissance philosophy? Keep reading this lesson because in a Teacher we explain them to you.

The humanism arose in the city ​​states of the north and center of Italy late 14th century and early 15th century. From there, it quickly (15th-16th centuries) spread throughout Europe and became the predominant thought, radically breaking with the medieval current prevailing until now.

Likewise, in this current three original authors stood out: Francesco Petrarca (1304-1379) with his work The Songbook,

Giovanni Boccacio (1313-1375) with his work Decamerón and Dante Alighieri (1265-1321) with his work The Divine Comedy. And, shortly after, others will stand out, such as: Lorenzo Valla (1407-1457), Giovanni Pico della Mirandola (1463-1494), Erasmus of Rotterdam (1466-1536), Nicholas Machiavelli (1469-1527), Tomás Moro (1478-1535) Juan Luis Vives (1492-1540), Michael de Montaigne (1532-1591) or Giordano Bruno (1548-1600).

Renaissance philosophy was a before and after in history, since it laid the foundations of current Western thought. In addition, it stood out for the following characteristics:

Context of Renaissance philosophy

Humanism is born in an environment cosmopolitan, in a society bourgeois and in a context urban of great economic, commercial and cultural splendor. Specifically, it is inserted in the flourishing city-states of northern Italy, which find their reference, their identity and their simile in the ancient Greek polis and in the Roman Republic. It is precisely for this reason that we see a rediscovery of the works and of the classic culture, omnipresent in art, architecture, literature and philosophy. Greco-Roman culture is idealized to such an extent that this period is called the Renaissance, in reference to the recovery of a splendid past after a period of time in darkness (Age Half).

In addition, its birth and expansion was in parallel with the development of the universities, the birth of the printing press and the production of works in vernacular languages, being the most accessible knowledge for the majority of the population.

Secularism and secularization

Another of the characteristics of Renaissance philosophy is found in the progressive secularization of society and the rejection of the social order based on theological doctrine (theocracy). Thus, a more diversified and autonomous society is sought.

Likewise, this secularization and secularism resulted in the denial of theological-religious transcendence (immantentism), the laicization of knowledge and the break with the religious domain / control of knowledge= freedom of research, scientific development against theology and defense of freedom of thought. As the philosopher repeatedly defended Giordano Bruno (1548-1600).

Likewise, all this led to the fall and questioning of the predominant thought in the Middle Ages, aristotelianism, to the development of reason and critical thinking against medieval religious and dogmatic thought.

Man versus God

The birth of Renaissance philosophy led to the disintegration of the theocentric thinking (God the center) and the imposition of the anthropocentric model. A) Yes, the human being is the center of the universe and the most perfect creation of God and nature (speicism). The anthropocentrismor is imposed on theocentrismprevailing in the Middle Ages (Saint Thomas Aquinas).

Now the human being comes to the fore: his qualities are exalted, it is established that he is fully trained, who is free, who has no intellectual limit and who owns his destiny (autonomy moral). That is, he becomes the protagonist, as he shows us Michael de Montaigne (1533-1592) in his work Essays or Anthropological Thought by Giordano Bruno.

Scientific method and the scientific revolution

The commitment to the scientific method is another of the characteristics of Renaissance philosophy. Linked to the diffusion of rational thought, a great curiosity for science arises, which, promoted the development of the scientific method and the scientific revolution. Scientism is imposed as the ideal of knowledge and progress for humanity.

In this way, there were numerous advances in medicine, biology, physics, anatomy and astronomy. In this sense, he highlighted the defense of the heliocentric model of Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543) and Galileo Galilei (1563-1642) in Sidereus nuncius (1610), Giordano Bruno's support for the relativity of motion and atomism and the development of Rene Descartes (1596-1650) of a methodology for the study of natural sciences in The discourse of the method.

“To investigate the truth it is necessary to doubt, as far as possible, all things. Descartes "

Reflection on politics and the State

By establishing that the individual is an autonomous being, the idea that at the political level it should not be protected, that is, political autonomy, is also defended. Thus, great thinkers like Leonardo Bruni (1369-1444) and Nicholas Machiavelli (1469-1527), they will reflect on the state model and politics.

The first will do it in History of the Florentine people (1473), where he defends the popular State as the perfect government (individuals actively participate). The second, in his work Prince (151371532) analyzes all types of government, the ruler's way of governing and the characteristics that a good political leader should have.

“Our way of governing the State aims to achieve freedom and equality for each and every citizen. Because it is egalitarian in all aspects, it is called popular government. Bruni "

The development of art

Another characteristic of Renaissance philosophy was the art studio: spatial proportion, light, anatomy, symmetry... As well as its development at the expense of patronage of great families or courts (Medici, Sforza, Francisco I of France, the papacy ...). Highlighting the works of Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510), Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) or Michelangelo (1475-1564).