Humanities & Classics 1002
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Renaissance Forum
Humanities & Classics 1002 |
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Where would we be now if it weren't for the Renaissance period. People were starting to think for themselves and they also started coming up with new technology that led to this technological world that we are living in today.
There seemed to be a theme in the Reni period. One being Virtu, a be all you can be, doing what is honest and good. The other was Fortuna. People just didn't fall into a slump with life saying this is what I must have been meant for. No, they strove for a better life, never settling on one certain circumstance.
The church was no longer the law to some. People were rebelling. Galileo for one. Most of his beliefs went against the church and he was later jailed for his beliefs. Centuries later though, the church recanted and Galileo was given credit.
Alberti said "If you strive with all your strenght and skill I have no doubt you will reach the highest degree of perfection and fame in any profession..." This quote could be put for use in today's society. Many people are stuck in a rutt and just can't seem to get out or so they think. Life is what you make of it. How about this one, "Who can ever think it possible to achieve honors and dignity without the loving of excellent arts, without assiduous work, without striving in difficult manly tasks. If one wishes to gain praise and fame, he must abhor laziness and oppose them as deadly foes...One who does not give himself body and soul to the quest for praise and virtue is deemed unworthy of life..." I think Alberti must have been a very wise man. His ideas are worth keeping alive. I know a few people who Alberti would be proud of. I look up to these people and wish I could be like them. Alberti, unfortunately, would look down upon me. I am definetely not his ideal person.
Machiavelli disscussed this ideal ruler. Someone who would put order and security first, but also be able to change his ideas in the middle of the course of action, if need be, so that he would not be beaten. He seems to be a dark fellow though compared to the others. A prince should be the best of everything and everyone. There ought not be anything greater. Try your best at what you do but don't dare to be better than the prince. He also doesn't seem to care who gets hurt or how evil or even how dangerous it maybe to get power.
Last but not least we have out buddy, Castiglione. He and Alberti have the same beliefs. Be all you can be. Exercise, shape, and stature is very important to this fellow. "And so I would have him well built and shapely of limb, and would have him show strenght and lightness and suppleness, and know all bodily excercises that befit a man of war; whereof I think the first should be to handle every sort of weapon well on fort and on horse, to be familiar with those weapons that are ordinarily used among gentlemen...Moreover I deem it very important to know how to wrestle, for it is a great help in the use of all kinds of weapons on foot." He doesn't want just any ol' person defending what is being defended. He wants the best. Someone who takes the task seriously. Takes life seriously. Studies are also important to this man. Language, arts, Mathmatics are basic building of a ideal renissaissance person. I definetly would have failed this man as well.
It really boggles my mind how people would meditate upon shapes and numbers. I found the use of Mathmatics in painting to be very interesting and I really was shocked. I always thought of a picture as just that. Just paint or what not, thrown upon some canvas and whall la. If anything, this class opened up my eyes to a whole new level of Math. I still am Mathmatically challenged as one put to me a few years ago, but I have a new respect for it and for the people who designed the stuff.
All in all these three men helped change the course of the world and help direct it to where we are found today. I wonder if they would be proud how we have put their beliefs into practice in the 21st century.