Humanism :: essays research papers

According to Encyclopedia.com humanism is, a philosophical and literary movement in which man and his capabilities atomic number 18 the central concern. While this elemental definition certainly does convey the essence of the movement, it does no justice to the whirlwind of tasteful and intellectual inspiration stirred up by it. There are many a(prenominal) forms of humanistic philosophy in todays society, only the origin of this school of thought traces its roots back to the days of the scholars of superannuated Greece and Rome. It was the revival of and renewed interest in Greco-Roman culture around (during the western transition from medieval to early modern culture) that marked the scratch of the Early rebirth. The humanists believed that the Greek and Latin classics contained all the lessons one needed to clear a moral and effective life. It was the profound respect for genius and scientific knowledge and of course the reevaluation of classical thought, literature, and art that gave the Renaissance its distinctively worldly stamp. Many accomplished artists and intellectuals studied during the roughly 200 year current of the Renaissance, and while some are more recognized than others, it is their combined wisdom that created many of foundations on which modern society is based. Though there were many great intellectuals, and artists during the three Renaissance periods, there are a some who clearly stick out as representing the true attitude of the times. These Renaissance Men as they are now called didnt limit themselves to one medium of hire or expression. Rather they embraced many forms of science and artistry, and finished their combined studies observed, recorded, and created many scientific theories about nature, man and nature, and man and himself that still hold truth and are the basis of many palm of study today. Of all the artist-scientists of the Renaissance Leonardo da Vinci best deserves the title. Born in Florence during the High Renaissance (1452-1519) he was most certainly not a man of book learning da Vinci spent his life observing the world around him, either imitating nature through art, or explaining nature through science. His hundreds of ingenious mechanical inventions and extensive knowledge in the fields of art, biology and the natural sciences immortalize his role as the father of the scientific revolution.Da Vincis work Embryo in the Womb (ca.1510) seems to be a perfect example of the impression classic humanism had on the works of the Renaissance.