Sources of Western Tradition

1. Sources of Western Tradition 4 Eras of Thinking: Renaissance & Reformation Scientific Revolution Enlightenment French Revolution

2. Humanists • Petrarch: the father of humanism • Loved classical literature (Greek and Roman texts) and criticized medieval literature for its barbarous ways. • He saw the Renaissance as a restoration of these great writings and ideas. • He remained a devout Christian above all else, combining his passion for the classics with Christianity. • Bruni: A Focus on Education • Man who coined the term “humanism”, meaning, “new learning”, or more specifically “literary culture needed by anyone who would be considered educated and civilized”. • He emphasized virtuous living through Christianity and study of the classics.

3. Mirandola vs. Machiavelli • Pocco della Mirandola: Human Dignity • Renaissance Man: mastered Greek, Latin, Hebrew, and Arabic. • Another humanist who believed that God bestowed upon humans a unique ability to control our own lives and expand to great lengths. • Thought humans are dignified and powerful – their overall intent is positive. • Niccolò Machiavelli: The Prince • First thinker to break from ideology based primarily on Christianity; his main focus was the well-being of the state and its power. • He contended that a ruler should forget morals and religion and focus on material supremacy. • “Better to be feared than loved”, “the ends justify the means”. • How are these two thinkers opposites?

4. Copernicus vs. The Church • Nicolaus Copernicus • Long debated publishing his works defying common knowledge for almost hundreds of years. • Found contradictions and blatant mistakes in previous writing about the universe. • Reluctantly stated that he believed the universe was heliocentric. • Cardinal Bellarmine’s letter to a friar • Uses the Bible as main evidence that Copernicus is wrong. • “If this is true, the Bible is completely false and the Christian religion is bogus.” • Notes that the Council of Trent says interpreting scripture against the Church is wrong.

5. The Other Sci-Revolutionaries • Galileo • Hated the slavish reliance on Aristotle and the Bible for scientific evidence • Used telescope to survey the sky and prove Copernicus’ theory. • Rene Descartes: Founder of Modern Philosophy • Gave people understanding that their minds are very powerful • Stressed experimentation over reliance on what you are told. • Isaac Newton: The Synthesizer • Proved that all bodies – an apple or a planet – follow the same laws of gravity. • Believed that God created the universe – a perfect mechanism • Helped combine all previous thinkers and himself into Universal Law.

6. Enlightenment Leaders • Immanuel Kant • Defined the Enlightenment as a rebirth of the intellect. • Saw French Revolution as victory of liberty over despotism. • Voltaire • Admired English liberty and toleration and attacked Old Regime for lack of them. • Attacked Christianity as superstition and supported “reason” over religion. • Supported religious tolerance as common sense and harmless.

7. Locke and Rousseau • John Locke • Humans are born with natural rights of life, liberty, and property. • The state’s job is to ensure that each subject has these rights. • All people are born equal and should be represented only by a constitutional government that they elect. • Had HUGE influence on T.J. and the Declaration of Independence. • Rousseau • Education is the key to a successful society. • Against monarchy, for public liberty. • Children should “develop naturally and spontaneously.” • New information = more human understanding = corruption of the mind.

8. Young and Sieyès • Arthur Young • Explains the taxing system of the French peasants. • Tells of terrible plight of the French peasants. • Why would a well-rounded Englishman travel through the French countryside to survey peasants? [just before the revolution] • Emmanuel Sieyès • Expressed the bourgeoisie’s disdain for the nobility. • He expresses the French Revolution’s ideals – liberty, equality, and fraternity – throughout his works.

9. Maximilien Robespierre • Used virtue as driving force of democracy. • Explained that terror is the justified means to defend this virtue. • Man behind the Reign of Terror.