Humanism and Neo-Platonism

Humanism and Neo-Platonism

The migration of scholars during the 1400’s is very significant to the fifteenth century. The scholars that were migrating towards the West found comfort in many of the new universities that were beginning to appear in Europe over the previous two centuries.
The migration of the scholars is what reintroduced classical thinkers into Western culture. It helped people to open up their minds and move away from the religious concepts that were around in the medieval times. These people are called humanists.
Humanists studied literature, art forms and the ideas of the ancient civilisation of Rome and Greece.
Humanists began reincorporating the theories and ways of thinking of the classical world. This led to major changes in how people perceived the world, men and religion. Men began to think differently about themselves, and believe that they are of a higher importance and are able to influence their own destinies, their philosophy was that man is placed in the centre of the temporal world, the material world and saw his contribution to the temporal world as valuable and recognised in the spiritual world.
Humanists believed greatly in one another, they saw the great value in the human effort and human potential. Early Renaissance scholars and artists saw their development from the medieval times as something to be very proud of.
Christian art continued to dominate throughout this period, but was being influenced by the “new style” which came from classical examples.
During this time the humanists also rediscovered Neo-Platonism and began to incorporate it into their lives. Neo-Platonism is one of the last great philosophies of the classical times, it incorporated philosophy, mysticism, theosophy and theurgy.

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