Perry #6: Pico, "Oration on the Dignity of Man"

Man is the most wonderful creature in the world, God created him as such, and he should act as such.

"There is nothing to be seen more wonderful than man."

God is the supreme "Architect."

God created man as something that would love and adore all of God's creations.

"O highest and most marvelous felicity of man! To him it is granted to have whatever he chooses, to be whatever he wills."

If a man is the best that he can be, he will become one with God.

Timothy Bulso

Bruni on the Greek Language and Education

Leonardo Bruni, on the Greek Language and Learning and Literature
1. Love of Greek Literature
A. Chrysoloras the Byzantine, the carrier of Greek to Latin scholars, became the teacher of the feverish student Bruni
B. Bruni claims that it is silly to not know the language that all knowledge draws from, going on to list Homer, Plato, and Demosthenes.
2. On Learning and Literature
A. All Learning must be based on understanding Latin, and knowledge of the language will ensure good scholarship elsewhere
B. From oratory, Bruni claims that we derive our elegant and elevated manners of speech from the great classical orators such as Cicero
C. Bruni stresses history as a very important study to master, claiming its influence in politics, or warns the government of past mistakes. The Historians to be credited are Livy, Sallust, Curtius, and Caesar
D. Bruni states that all great minds: Aristotle, Plato, and Cicero all cite Greek Authors such as Homer, Hesiod, Pindar and Euripides
E. In the writings of the Greeks the Renaissance scholar finds non-Christian thought about the nature of the universe

Pico "Oration of the Dignity of Man"

MEHAP

Pico’s “Oration on the Dignity of Man”

Thesis: Although all other creatures in our universe are bound to a determined place in the universe, Pico emphatically suggests that human beings are different in the sense that God has bestowed upon us the liberty and power to shape our lives, a belief that is key in the emergence of the modern outlook.

· When men’s explanations for the excellence of human nature were unable to satisfy Pico, he sought to compose his own theory

o Men’s explanations: that man is the intermediary between creatures, the intimate of the gods, the kings of lower beings, the interval between fixed eternity and passing time

o Pico’s belief that there has to be something more about human life for according to Abdala the Saracen, he believed that “There is nothing to be seen more wonderful than man”: man is the most fortunate of creatures and admirable miracle

o Pico’s conclusion

§ In God’s, the Architect’s, cosmic and marvelous home, there were three levels:

· The Intelligences lived in the region above the heavens

· The eternal souls were part of the heavenly spheres

· The Lower World was filled with “excrementary and filthy”

§ However, as such a Craftsman, he wished to create someone “to ponder such great work, to love its beauty, and to wonder at its vastness” à thought about the creation of man

§ Since God ordained all creatures with different characteristics and had not yet deemed man with any such qualities, God made him as” indeterminate creature” in the middle of the world with “neither a fixed abode nor a form that is thine alone nor any function peculiar to thyself have we given thee. . . thou mayest have and possess what abode, what form, and what functions thou thyself shalt desire.”

§ Unlike all nature and other beings, which are limited to the laws of God and heaven, man is constrained by no such limits and is able to choose for himself according to free will

§ By the generosity of God, man is granted whatever he chooses and to be whatever he desires unlike beasts (confined to an extent) and spiritual angels (are for ever and ever)

§ MAN, made by God as:

· At the center of the world

· Neither of heaven nor of earth

· Neither mortal nor immortal

· With power to either to become a lower life form or to progress towards a divine higher form

o Pico’s examples of shaping one’s own life

§ If vegetative, then will be like a plant

§ If sensitive, then will become rough

§ If rational, then will evolve into a heavenly being

§ If intellectual, then will be an angel and son of God

§ If happy and pleased with his inward beauty and spiritual passion, his soul shall rise above all

Francesco Guicciardini- “The Greatness of Lorenzo de Medici”

Francesco Guicciardini- “The Greatness of Lorenzo de Medici”
Will Stewart

Thesis- Lorenzo de Medici did great things for the city of Florence as a patron of arts and learning, but in doing so built up an inordinate amount of debt.

• Lorenzo de Medici: 1449-1492
• Lorenzo desirous of glory and riches
• Spread into multiple areas
o Angry with those who equaled him
o Made Florence great city through competition
• University in Pisa
o Worse than Padua or Pavia? “Not so!” said Lorenzo.
o Went to all expenses to bring in famous scholars
• Paid them a lot
• Humanities- Agnolo Poliziano
• Greek- Demetrio [Chalcondylas] and [Constantine] Lascari
• Philosophy and art- Marsilio Ficino, Giorgo Benigno, Count Pico della Mirandola
o Also poetry, music, architecture, painting, sculpture
• Men competed to please Lorenzo
• Provided men with livelihoods
o Sent men all the way to Greece to find books for Greek library
• But he spent huge amounts of money on anything he wanted
• Bought favor of powerful people in Lyons, Milan, Bruges, etc.
• Expenses up, profits down
o Didn’t care or know much about business
o Often on verge of bankruptcy, had to borrow from friends

Machiavelli

Rob Edwards

7. Discuss the special contributions made by Machiavelli to politics and political thought. What motivated his writings? How would you evaluate his conclusions?

Thesis: Niccolò Machiavelli, motivated by an intense desire to see Italy united as well as by a feeling of despair for the state of political ineptitude in his home town of Florence, went against the teachings of medieval political and moral philosophers to say that rulers needed to be more secular in their politics, as well as be unafraid to go to extremes to achieve a desirable goal.

• 
  
  Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527)
• 
  
  Writes the most lasting work of the Italian Renaissance
  • 
    
    The Prince (1513)
  • 
    
    dreams of the day when the citizens of his native Florence, or all of italy, should behave like early Romans, show virility in their politics, fight in citizen armies for patriotic causes, and uphold their dignity before Europe.
  • 
    
    This book produces a handbook of statecraft which he hoped italy might find useful
  • 
    
    First purely secular treatise on politics.
• 
  
  Machiavelli emancipates politics from theology and moral philosophy.
• 
  
  The prince's contribution to political history is the fundamental break between political realism and political idealism
• 
  
  The republicanism he focused on, especially the theme of civic virtue, became one of the dominant political themes of the modern world, and was a central part of the foundation of American politics
• 
  
  Expressly rejects the principle that kings should adhere to Christian moral teachings. He argues that successful princes needed to be concerned only with preserving and strengthening the power of the state, and if necessary should ignore any questions of good and evil
• 
  
  “A prince, therefore, must not mind incurring the charge of cruelty for the purpose of keeping his subjects united and faithful”
• 
  
  “It is much safer for a prince to be feared than loved... a prince should make himself feared in such a way that if he does not gain love, he at any rate avoids hatred”
• 
  
  “A prince [is obliged] in order to maintain the state, to act against faith, against charity, against humanity, and against religion.”

Perry Reading - Benedetto Dei

• Benedetto Dei - Patriotic Florentine merchant who compares his native city-state favorably to the likes of Venice, Genoa, etc.

- lived in Florence under the rule of Lorenzo de Medici

- claims that Florence is superior because of its background

"We spring from triply noble blood. We are one-third Roman, one-third Frankish, and one-third Fiesolan..."

- Focuses on economic prowess

- Florence's two trades, wool and silk, are much more lucrative than any of the trades of other city-states

- boasts about the large number of banks, jewelers, shops, goldsmiths, etc. in Florence

- all of the merchants of the world supposedly prefer Florence to London, Bruges, etc.

- attacks claims that Florence is bankrupt due to Cosimo de Medici's death, saying that "if we have had losses, it is owing to your dishonesty and the wickedness of your Levantine merchants, who have made us lose thousands of florins (gold coins)..."

- Also, Cosimo's wealth lives on in his sons and grandsons

Summary: Benedetto Dei claims that Florence's industry is unrivaled by any other city, not only in Italy but in the entire world. The evidence that supports his claims lies in the vast number of shops and banks which provide for a lucrative economy. This was a direct statement to other city-states' claims, particularly Venice, that Florence's economy is much weaker than it used to be (when Cosimo de Medici was in chancellor, rather than Lorenzo de Medici). What is surprising is that Benedetto's patriotism was actually very uncommon for his time - a time when there was more focus on the individual and very little pride for one's city or country.

Perry: Leonardo Da Vinci Art and Science

-1452 - 1519

- his art announced a new way of looking at nature and the individual

- Artistic goal: represent objects as diverse and real as possible

- Senses : hearing and seeing - keys to understanding art

- Visual art

1. a means of arriving at nature's truth

2. brought human reason and human creativity together

3. he used unprecedented scientific precision

4. "he who has access to the fountain does not go to the water-pot" : do not base your knowledge of nature with other interpretations, but with nature itself

- study of human proportions laid foundations for modern science

1. i.e. "A man's outstretched arms is equal to his height"

2. interested in the human body and motion of limbs (ex. The Vitruvian Man)

- wanted to convey the "concrete specificity" (absolute reality) of things

- Perspective

1. used large perspective backgrounds in his works to give more of a sense of 3-demential reality (ex. Mona Lisa)

- used mathematics as a means of giving order to the world

- balanced religion with humanistic ideals - idea of Italian Renaissance

Leon Battista Alberti on Painting

Thesis: Alberti’s mathematical developments in art not only provide more realistic paintings during the Renaissance, but also paved the way for a more scientific approach to nature.

1. Mathematical theory of artistic perspective – illusion of depth, 3d and 2d surfaces

2. Paves the way for development of modern scientific approach to nature

i. Copernicus in astronomy

ii. Galileo in physics

3. Idea of vision as a triangle

i. Base: quantity seen

ii. Sides: rays extended from quantity to the eye

iii. As angle within eye becomes acute, object gets smaller

4. Human Figure as basis for precise ratio between objects

Perry v.2 on Italian Renaissance

Perry v.2 on Italian Renaissance

Pico della Mirandola

I. Pico della Mirandola’s work, “Oration on the Dignity of Man” is an integral part of Italian Renaissance, because of its ability to concisely and effectively assert the beauties and purpose of man. This work, along with many others of the time, refocused the outlook of the world away from strictly God and the church and onto man as a powerful individual worthy of praise. Mirandola also states that man is above all angels in the celestial hierarchy, because man is made in the image of God, and reaches his zenith through thought and philosophy.

II. Purpose of the Creation of man

A. God (Supreme Architect of the Universe) wants a being to enjoy the beauty of Earth, his creation, and thus creates man.

B. God grants autonomy to humans

1. Great shape shifter (man)

III. God loves activities of man

A. Art is to glorify God

1. The ability to create art is from God, and therefore pleases him.

B. Man is equipped with certain gifts upon birth, and how he chooses to use them are up to him

IV. The Generous Creator

A. The independence and thinking capacity granted to man are a gift from God, and should evoke praise to Him.

B. “Man can have whatever he chooses, be whatever he wills”

Petrarch: Father of Humanism

Thesis: In Petrarch’s criticism against dialecticians of his time, he argues that the medieval writers and literature are barabaric compared to the style of classic writers such as Cicero, Seneca, and other Romans

· Background of Petrarch:

· Francesco Petrarca: (1304-1374) – poet and scholar

· He was called Father of Humanism

· Inspired other Humanists with his love of the classics

· Demonstrates self-consciousness in the modern outlook

· Remained a devout Christian

· Considered a Christian Humanist modeled by Erasmus

· Criticism:

· Calls the dialecticians not only ignorant but also demented

· “Men who are innocent of knowledge and virtue, and yet harbour the most exalted opinion of themselves”

· Criticism against their attacking the dead authors, for Petrarch believes that the classical writers express extremely meaningful humanistic values vs. the dull annals of Medieval writers

Jack Whitson

No. 6 Francesco Guicciardini, The Greatness of Lorenzo de Medici.

Thesis: The greatness of Lorenzo de Medici was derived not only from his ambitious quest for power, nor the improvements which aided and bolstered the city of Florence, but his “infinite liberality” to the citizens of the cities.

· Perry begins with stating that Lorenzo was a man striving for his own glory and excellence.

o He despised those superior to him during games

o He had an obsessive need to ascend to the top of Florentine society.

· Nevertheless, Perry writes that Lorenzo’s ambitions, were not merely personal and vain, as he sought to make Florence the pride of the Italian city-states, all to his credit.

o Notable examples of this “positive release” of ambition are the University of Pisa (founded under his initiative), an increase of the study of the humanities, and artistic patronage.

· Perry makes a point that Lorenzo showed an unrestrained liberality toward men of talent.

o One notable example of this benevolence was his request for Lascaris to travel to Greece to find the best manuscripts for his new library.

o This generosity also resounded well with the other Italian princes,

§ Perry does note that Lorenzo would stop at nothing to ensure his popularity with the other noble heads of state.

o Nevertheless, this financial liberality, combined with poor knowledge of business dealing, led to poor profits.

o Contributing to the problems were poor sub administrators such as Lionetto de’Rossi.

§ At this time Lorenzo even hovered over bankruptcy, which according to Perry, forced him to give up the money of friends or the state.

Lorenzo de Medici

MEHAP-Andrew Fortugno

Outline-Perry-Francesco Guicciardini-The Greatness of Lorenzo de Medici

Lorenzo de Medici help to foster the Italian Renaissance in Florence by his patronizing of the arts and education.

1. Medici Family

a. Banking

b. Politics

c. Patronizing Arts

2. Lorenzo de Medici

a. Desire for glory and excellence

b. Competed with the other princes of Italy in everything

c. Brought himself glory and fame everywhere

d. Caused Florence to stand above all other Italian cities in arts and skill

e. Founded a university at Pisa (principally for study of letters)

i. Brought most famous men of Italy to teach there and paid high salaries

f. Various other intellectuals thrived in Florence

g. Showed same favor to poetry, music, architecture, painting, sculpture, so that Florence was filled with all these things

h. Artists and intellectuals had to compete for the favor of Lorenzo

i. Struggled with his finances because of neglecting his own business affairs, because of his interest in the arts and his own reputation

i. resorted to his friends money and public funds

Machiavelli, The Prince
-orginally written 1513, not published until 1532
-first work of modern philosophy
-empasizes pragmatism instead of theology
-13 sections
-introduction
-examines political power in the western world
-Defense/Military
-in order to hold a city, one must have a formidable army or strong fortifcations
-is strongly against mercenary armies
-Self-Reliance
-you will be more respected if you gain power by overthrowing a hated order than being given power
-Reform and revolution
-people are naturally against change
-avoid at all cost
-Reputation of a prince
-if at all possible, have a good reputation, but not 100% necessary
-Generosity vs Parsimony
-a good balance is necessary, but lean toward parsimony
-Cruelty vs Mercy
-it is best to be both feared and loved, but if you cannot be both, lean towards fear
-How to keep your word
-always keep it unless absolutly necessary
-Avoiding Hatred
-keep people and nobles satisfied
-Gain honors
-by completing great feats
-Nobles and Staff
-king will seem wiser if he is smarter than those he surrounds himself with
-Avoiding flatterers
-counselors must be truthful
-Fortune
-unavoidable, but can be influenced

Palmer #6, Question 1

Palmer #6, Question 1

Will Stewart

“Why is the Renaissance in some ways an erroneous term? What relationship may be pointed out between the modern world and the Middle Ages? The modern world and the Renaissance?”

1. Though the term “Renaissance” is in some ways erroneous in that it refers to institutions that originated in the Middle Ages, the overall sense of a rebirth in thought and science returning to the Greco-Roman tradition did actually occur in the period known as the Renaissance.
2. Relationship between modern world and Middle Ages
1. Christianity develops into recognizable modern form

i. Roman Catholic Church arises

2. Modern languages arise in this period

i. Romance and Germanic European languages

ii. Semi-modern English seen for the first time

3. Nation-states begin to form

i. Eventually would become modern countries

ii. Particularly modern France and England

4. Medieval universities à modern science

i. Theology, law, medicine

5. Role of government

i. Modern idea of taxation

ii. Largely autonomous towns somewhat controlled by federal government

iii. Separation of powers- parliaments vs. monarchy

3. Relationship between modern world and Renaissance
1. Modern art and literature

i. Renaissance artists- Michelangelo, Raphael, Bernini, Borromini, Da Vinci, etc.

ii. Modern art in galleries, modern architecture- all originates here

2. Modern philosophy

i. Moral philosophy not having to do with religion

ii. Questions of humanity and culture neither theological nor scientific

1. Propriety, decorum, personal character, education

3. Secular attitude, originating in Italy

i. Modern idea of separation of reason and religion

ii. Life important not only as a path to afterlife

iii. Leading thinkers not part of the church

Studies of Greek Literature and Humanist Educational Program

In his letter to a friend, Leonardo Bruni (1374-1444) stresses that knowledge of poets and orators from antiquity as well as history are indispensable to a Christian Humanist education. He makes the argument that all knowledge comes from the Greeks. He explains that his passion for Greek literature came about when Chrysoloras the Byzantine came to Florence from Constantinople after it was conquered by the Turks. He was welcomed into Florence, where Bruni lived, to teach Greek language and literature. Although Bruni was studying Civil Law at the time, he found the prospect to study Greek language and classics as a once in a lifetime opportunity, so he became one of Chrysoloras' pupils. He goes on to say that all knowledge of Western thought derived from the Greeks, and that to have a proper education one must have a knowledge of Latin. One cannot read the classics and enjoy them without having the knowledge of the language. In terms of classical education, the study of poetry, orators, and history was essential. From poets come deep speculation on the nature of things and the way the world works, and the person who is familiar with poetry is a well-rounded man. Knowledge of orators prepares one for good writing as well as proper civil discourse. Not to mention the study of orators is good for morality, for from the orators of antiquity come great praise of virtue and condemnation of vices. He saw History as a subject that could enhance one's perspective on current affairs and gives lessons of warning in public policy and other issues. Therefore he saw history as the most important subject for a classical education. Moreover, he believed it was man's duty to understand their origins and development

Leon Battista Alberti "On Painting"

Renaissance artists were inspired by the art of classical antiquity which stressed realism and perspective. The Renaissance artist gave immeasurable importance to the viewer. The resulting art gave expression to classical humanism.

I. Introduction describing Della pittura (On Painting) by Leon Battista Alberti (1404 - 1472)

A. Alberti - the first modern art theoretician

B. formulated the mathematical theory of artistic perspective

C. purpose - to enable artists o depict objects as if they were seen through a glass window

D. this realist approach in Renaissance art and artistic theory helped to pave the way for the the development of the modern scientific approach to nature

II. On Painting - Alberti begs us to consider him an artist first and a mathematician second

III. Alberti uses a triangle or pyramid to show how light rays coming from the object converge on the viewer’s eyes

A. Vision makes a triangle

A. Rule: as the angle within the eye becomes more acute, so the quantity appears smaller

1. The more rays used in seeing, the larger the object; the fewer the rays, the smaller

B. 3D not 2D: as depth is added to a 2D painting, more 2D planes are added behind the original to produce the visual effect of depth and 3 dimensions

C. Painters circumscribe the plane with their lines

1. artists must seek to present the forms of things as if its plane were of transparent glass

2. thus the visual triangle can pass through it

IV. Alberti describes his use of the human figure as a basis for a precise ratio between the objects in a painting

A. When Alberti paints he starts with a quadrangle which he considers a window through which he sees what he wishes to paint

B. he divides men into 3 parts called braccia which are roughly equivalent to 2 feet

C. he makes a point where the central ray strikes called the centric point

D. a painted thing can never appear truthful where there is not a definite distance for seeing it

Niccolo Machiavelli - "The Prince"

Machiavelli develops a new perspective on politics and the qualities needed for a prince to maintain stability among the people of his state, emphasizing a more pragmatic stance rather than a purely morally driven stance and addresses the inherent flaw in humans making the idea of a perfect state impossible.

· Machiavelli first addresses that the view of successful republics or principalities are all unrealistic and made up by the imagination

o “…many have imagined republics and principalities which have never been seen or known to exist in reality”

· “how we live is so far removed from how we ought to live, that he who abandons what is done for what ought to be done, will rather learn to bring about his own ruin than his preservation”

· He describes how people who wish to do good in everything will inevitably come to grief

o Beginning of this theme that people are imperfect – selfish, greedy, etc.

o “…it is necessary for a prince, who wishes to maintain himself, to learn how not to be good”

· Machiavelli explains that it is impossible for man to possess all the virtues or traits that bring him praise or blame – “human conditions not permitting of it”

o Trying to possess all of these virtues only results in the failure to maintain the state, so the most practical solution is to sacrifice some of these virtues.

o “…some things which seem virtues would, if followed, lead to one’s ruin, and some others which appear vices result in one’s greater security and wellbeing…”

· Princes must be perceived as merciful but be aware that cruelty is also necessary for enforcement in maintaining the state

o E.g. Cesare Borgia, considered cruel, but brought order and peace to the Romagna by uniting it VS. the Florentine people, seen as merciful, allowed Pistoia to be destroyed

· Machiavelli asks the question, “whether it is better to be loved more than feared, or feared more than loved”

o “one ought to be both feared and loved, but…it is much safer to be feared than loved”

o he explains that when loyalty of the people to a prince is based solely on love for that prince, it is easy for that loyalty to disappear

o when loyalty of the people to a prince is based on fear – it is a lot harder to break

o “love is held by a chain of obligation which, men being selfish, is broken whenever it serves their purpose; but fear is maintained by a dread of punishment which never fails”

· He warns princes that, even if it is necessary to exercise force, you must “abstain from taking the property of others” including rights

· “it is extremely necessary that he [the prince] should not mind being thought cruel”

o gives the example of Hannibal who was perceived as cruel but maintained peace and order among his troops

· Machiavelli describes two methods of fighting – one by law, the other by force

o “the first method is that of men, the second of beasts; but as the first method is often insufficient, one must have recourse to the second”

o He advises that a prince needs this beast aspect of fighting as well as the human aspect

o Uses an analogy of the fox and the lion

§ The lion – cannot protect itself from traps but can fend of wolves

§ The fox – can protect itself from traps but cannot fend of wolves

o A prince must be both

· “he must have a mind disposed to adapt itself according to the wind…not deviate from what is good, if possible, but be able to do evil if constrained”

· He says that even if a prince is forced to use force or unfavorable methods of maintaining his state – he will always be perceived as honorable and just if he maintains peace and stability.

o “Let a prince therefore aim at conquering and maintaining the state, and the means will always be judged honourable and praised by everyone.”

Leonardo da Vinci, "Art and Science"

Leonardo da Vinci, "Art and Science"

Perry Sourcebook, Vol. 1 [pp.296-299]

In his writings, Leonardo da Vinci reflects a fascination with the natural order of the world, suggesting a repudiation of the classical perceptions of knowledge, philosophy, and education.

The senses: key to human understanding

Eyesight and hearing are the ways by which humans can experience nature

Art is a medium by which these senses can be translated and experienced

Importance of nature

Direct interpretation of the nature as a way of understanding the universe

"He who has access to the fountain does not go to the water-pot."

i.e. studying nature is better than studying interpretations by other artists

The art of painting itself:

Leonardo approached painting very scientifically, focusing on two major areas:

The Figure

Renaissance art increased the focus on the individual as the subject of art

da Vinci believed in a complex understanding of the body

in particular, he stressed the importance of understanding the motion of limbs

[perhaps suggesting a broader interest in action and pragmatism]

Ratios: an empirical understanding

Leonardo believed that figures must exhibit certain ratios of proportion

The Vitruvian Man (pictured) is a classic example of the well-proportioned human figure, as derived from the writings of Vitruvius

Ratios could translate the subjectivity of art into an objective science

The Perspective

Leonardo was an adamant believer in a larger perspective to his paitings

He devised complex backgrounds to give perspective to his work

The Mona Lisa is an example

Some implications:

importance of the individual: da Vinci put emphasis on individuals people in his works

interest in Greco-Roman thought: he was an avid reader of classical philosophy

pragmatism: Leonardo believed in being active and leaving a concrete mark on the world

a scientific world: these early writings suggest a transition to the fully modernized world-view which embraces science, reason, and secularism
the role of religion: Leonardo's art was still deeply religious in many ways; he found a balance between the two forces (relgion and secularism) which defined the Renaissance

a fresh perspective on learning: Traditionally, young artists had learned by studying the works of other masters. da Vinci favored a fresh approach, emphasizing the need to learn by one's self directly from nature. This attitude towards knowledge opened up a new world of scientific understanding in the modern world.