Humanism, Essay Example

“Humanism” is a polysemantic word enclosing generic and more narrow definitions, as well. In its most general and wide-spread meaning, humanism relates to moral aspects. It concerns philanthropic, decent attitude to people, preference given to human values, dignity, and rights. In this regard, humanism often characterizes historic events (like wars), people and their actions. In times of high life speed and pragmatism, humanism assumed pejorative sense. Many people consider it insignificant, in comparison with other practical problems.

In the framework of Renaissance epoch, the term “humanism” was applied to the revival of the humanities (grammar, rhetoric, history, poetry) through which artist strived to conduct cultural reforms. Moreover, humanists (tutors of humanities) regarded the education a new approach of discovering and developing human individuality. They appealed primarily to ancient authors. Ancient Latin and Greek works were considered the measure of “human” traits. These literary art works were examples language purity which played a significant part. The humanists of the fourteenth to the sixteenth century thought of humanism as aesthetic aspects of sophisticated speech, refined taste, and subtle attitude to life. Renaissance thinkers identified “humane” with acquirement of these practice skills. According to Nauert (2006), “rhetorical skill and character development became and remained the advantages claimed for humanistic education” (Nauert, 2006, p.15). Therefore, the practical needs justified the domination of rhetorical sciences over logic and natural sciences.

Through centuries, the term gradually acquired new aspects. In Realistic art humanism revealed through perception of man as key subject matter of art works. Hence, value of life, dignity, rights, and the development of an individual drew particular attention.

Then, the advent of modernist movements brought new approaches to the definition of humanism and its manifestations in arts. New movements cast doubt on the central position of man in arts, frequently giving the term pejorative tinge. David Mikics appeals to Martin Heidegger’s “Letter on Humanism” (1947) to prove his disapproval of Jean-Paul Sartre’s “humanist existentialism”. Heidegger “asserted that man… was a limited concept” in Sartre’s focus (Mikics, 2007, p. 148).

Therefore, the notion “humanism” has experienced essential transformations from the time of its emergence. Its changing definition remains constant target of philosophical and cultural studies.

References

Mikics, D. (2007). A new handbook of literary terms.  New Haven, CT:Yale University Press.

Nauert, Ch. G. (2006). Humanism and the culture of Renaissance Europe. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.