Humanities & Classics 1002
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Renaissance Forum
Humanities & Classics 1002 |
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In Reply to: PLEASE POST YOUR SECOND REQUIRED POSTING AS FOLLOWUPS TO THIS POST posted by Tom Bacig on January 13, 1999 at 21:59:54:
In the writings of Alberti, Castiglione, and Machiavelli, there are many different views on what each individuals perception of what the Renaissance Man should be, yet there are also many views that are similar also.
In Alberti's "On the Family", he talks about how a man should live is by a life of hard, endless work and a full education of every subject that exists. He says that "...everyone must love the arts" and should also be good at everything else as far as science, geometry, and music. Man must also use every skill to it's fullest extent, and should be able to "read and write perfectly" and should "learn excellent customs". Alberti hated idleness and believed that any manwho is lazy and idle is evil. Any man who is a working man and turns away idleness is turning away evil.
In Castiglione's "The Coutier", he believed more in the physical power of man. He says that body is power while at the same time, man should also be educated in all subjects. Loyalty and good virtues are also important when being a courtier, according to Castiglione's writings. Castiglione seemed to be more asserted with man needing the knowledge of warfare tactics and everything that goes along with that. He says that an ideal man is a man of war yet also a gentleman. Unlike Alberti, Castiglione believed that man should focus on just one main thing and then go on that, but should also be aware of other subjects too.
Machivelli's "The Prince" focused on man being ruthless and should do anything to keep his power. War is very important, that is on how to pursue it and also a well understanding of it. He also speaks of how a prince shoud know when to virtuous and when not to be because virtuousity can sometimes lead to a Prince's downfall. A prince must use force but also should learn from his mistakes made in the past. He does believe that his people should trust him, but to look out for himself in every way.
These three writers speak of three different types of Renaissance men in their writings. Alberti and Castiglione agree on the education part as being very important while also being virtuous, but Alberti focuses on the all arouns educated perfect man, and Castiglione focuses on the physical war type man. Machivelli focuses on education being important, but mainly says that in order to be a good prince, he must put himself as number one first and always.