Renaissance: A Rebirth of Classical Era Thought
Petrarch, Pico Base Humanist Philosophies on Greek, Roman Times
During the Renaissance, Early Modern Europeans adopted new views on politics, culture, and individuality. While many concepts were drastically different than perspectives used in the previous millennia, their ideas were often not ‘new’. Numerous Renaissance artisans and courtiers based changing attitudes on newly rediscovered concepts of Roman, Greek, and other pre-4th century thought.
Examples of shifting viewpoints that draw upon Roman and Greek art and philosophy can be seen in:
- Francis Petrarch’s collected Familiar Letters
- Oration on the Dignity of Man by Giovanni Pico Della Mirandola (Pico)
Petrarch and Pico are often considered “fathers of the Renaissance.” Each of their texts draws upon a somewhat Humanist individualist philosophy of morals and achievement, and each qualifies their standards against Ancient Greek and Roman art and philosophies. An influence is also heavily present throughout these texts is the Bible, though interpretations begin to vary more widely during this period.
Pico’s Oration on the Dignity of Man References Abdala the Aracen, Ancient Greeks
In Oration, Pico draws upon ancient Arabian texts to support his philosophy on the greatness of man. “There was nothing to be seen more marvelous than man,” he writes, repeating Abdala the Saracen’s (currently thought by scholars to be the cousin of the prophet Mohammed) comment on the greatest wonder of the world. He goes on to state that man is placed at the center of the world by God so that he may comprehend God’s work.
Throughout Pico’s essay, he mentions:
- Empedocles
- Heraclitus
- Homer
- Pythagoras
- Greek mythology, citing Mercury and Mars and Apollo
- Socrates
Many of the quotes and stories he chooses specifically support the new view of emphasizing man’s great potential. Pico speaks of “Socratic frenzies which lift us to such ecstasy that our intellects and our very selves are united with God”. His quote from Empedocles talks about the “dual nature” of man, explaining how we are tempted “downward”.
Petrarch’s Letters Cite St Augustine, Julius Caesar
Francis Petrarch also uses many ancient rediscovered texts to support a similar Humanist conclusion in his collected letters. When he explains how he came to his decision to climb Mount Ventoux, Petrarch talks about reading Livy’s History of Rome. He bases much of his decision to climb the mountain and proceeds on an intellectual journey from an ancient story of Roman times.
He also cites St. Augustine’s book Confessions (p. 317) and quotes an important passage on the significance of man’s wonder: “And men go about to wonder at the heights of mountains and the might sea . . . but themselves they consider not.” Clearly, these ancient texts had a great impact on the intellect of Petrarch.
Petrarch Writes Letter To Ancient Greeks
He also mentions ancient famed men such as Julius Caesar (in Posterity). Petrarch even writes some of his letters directly to ancient philosophers, such as several to Marcus Cicero (106 BC-43BC) in which he cites stories Brutus and Octavious to explain his feelings. These early thinkers were not only just an influence to Petrarch; they were practically long-lost friends. He clearly measured the state of his current politics and intellectual thought to the standards of these old philosophers.
As is seen in these 2 texts, ancient Rome and Greece vastly influenced the cultural redirection of the Renaissance period. “Fathers” of the Renaissance relied on the writings of this era and other pre-Medieval men to form their own ‘new’ standards and conclusions.
Painting of Francis Petrarch
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Portrait of Giovanni Pico della Mirandola
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