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:
All three authors, Alberti, Castiglione, Machiavelli, believe that a "Renaissance Man" should not be stagnant but always involved in studies, arms, and the like. More often than naught it begins with the search for knowledge. For all three believe that knowledge gives a man the ability to be great, but where they differ is what a "Renaissance Man" should do with that knowledge in his or her life.
Castiglione's "Courtier" expands on Alberti's "On the Family" in that he says that if a man abhors laziness and undergoes difficult tasks, then one should have no problem in continuing his methods of discipline to win praise through that of arms. The two essays parallel also in that they say if a man stays on the straight and narrow and does not loose sight of his goals in life, then fame and reputation will come second nature.
Machiavelli's "The Prince" parallels Alberti's "On the Family" in that Machiavelli says if a man is wise, stays alert, and is always aware of his surroundings, then he should have no problem maintaining his state. As the two essays state, if a man is sloth then surely ruin will follow closely.
Alberti Believes that each man can achieve fame and fortune if they wish to, but one will never make them reality if they are lazy. He also states that sloth and laziness are the cause of so many evils that man must avoid. To steer clear of these evils, Alberti says that man must always strive to do his best in what ever he sets out to do.
Castiglione believes that for a man to gain true fame, one must excel in that of arms. He says that one can build a legendary reputation through loyal wok, acts of courage, and enthusiasm. He also says that one can just as easily loose that reputation if they show acts of cowardice in their profession of arms.
Machiavelli says that it would be ideal to have a prince to have every good quality that a man could have but he realizes that "human conditions do not permit it." He believes that a prince should be "sufficiently prudent that he may know how to avoid the reproach of those vices which would lose him his state." He recognizes that there are easy ways for a prince to hold on to his state, but that the easy ways are not always the best ways and don't always work out they way they would wish them to.
Each of the three authors explains the ideal "Renaissance Man" along the same lines with the only differences coming from that of the influence of their own surroundings. A man living at their time could read each essay and apply which ever one would suit their needs. Even though the authors differ in where they believe a "Renaissance Man" should end up, we see the universal thought amongst them that was the major theme of the Renaissance, mans quest for knowledge.