Erasmus of Rotterdam in Praise of Folly Essay - 1130 Words

The works of the Dutch humanist Desiderius Erasmus, often titled the Praise of Folly, Erasmus’s seminal pre-Reformation essay examines aspects of Church teaching as well as aspects of worship which Erasmus deems worthy of the biting satire he utilises Erasmus was unrelenting in his criticism of pedantry, sophistry and demagoguery among both clerical and secular figures. Rediscovery of Aristotle and the birth of humanism in the renaissance The influence of Erasmus on humanism during this time was so great as to ensure that Northern Renaissance humanism came to be labelled Erasmian. A movement which, unlike its Italian counterpart and predecessor, would place faith and piety at the centre of theology and would place a large emphasis on ad†¦show more content†¦It will describe the role of Erasmus in the reformation and Erasmus’s unease at his position straddling the ever-increasing divide in Western Christendom between the traditionalist Catholic position and that of the Reformers. , placing Erasmus in either camp, given his reputation as simultaneously the intellectual godfather of Reformation thought and his ostensible life-long loyalty (despite his persistent criticisms) to the Roman church is innately problematic. Erasmus’s own view of Praise of Folly is a subject of much dispute. Going by his own writings it seems unsure just how seriously he expected that particularly work to be taken. Certainly its theological merit is utterly overshadowed by much of the rest of his body of work. †¢ Hard to know how much import Erasmus himself attached to the work given his writings hence and it place as a relatively insignificant part of a substantial corpus of work over his life. †¢ The power and potency of Praise of Folly and the effectiveness of Folly as a serious messenger were perhaps inadvertent on the part of the author. †¢ It’s more important historically then literarily. †¢ Already in chapter 40, under the guise of continuing frivolify and without any change of tone or style, Erasmus has thrown in a list of pious superstitions, quite long enough to make a thologians hair stand on end †¢ Chapter 48 with its attack on pretentiousness ‘forms the heart of the satire’. †¢ We can’t useShow MoreRelatedErasmus: Live Learn Love Essay examples1024 Words   |  5 PagesDesiderius Erasmus, a man of few spoken words, wrote many arguments about how the church was being run. He felt that everyone acted â€Å"godly† and thought that they were above people. He critiqued not only those in the church, but many broad generalizations of people as well, citing the bible. Most of Erasmus’ disdain for the way things were run was due to the circumstances he was raised in. With his â€Å"The Praise of Folly† Erasmus shows his humanistic worldview, as well as tells people what they shouldRead More Desiderius Erasmus - prince Of The Humanists Essay641 Words   |  3 PagesOn October 28, 1466, Desiderius Erasmus was born the illegitimate son of Margaretha Rogers and Gerard in Rotterdam, Holland. Despite such a dull and seemingly trite birth, Erasmus would grow to be a great influence in the Renaissance era. Through the questioning of est ablished people and institutions, such as modern theologians and education systems, Erasmus became known as the â€Å"Prince of the Humanists† and a great revolutionary known throughout the world. Erasmus was raised by his mother throughRead MoreStudy Guide to Renaissance Humanism2965 Words   |  12 Pagesatheism, nor did it advance an amoral philosophy; it tended to advance a neo-Platonism through the writings of such individuals as Pico della Mirandola and Marsilio Ficino. Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam was the author of A. The Praise of Folly A) Erasmus of Rotterdam was the author of (A) The Praise of Folly, which was a criticism of the ambitions of the clergy. The Birth of Venus (B) was a painting by Rafael. More was the author of Utopia (C); Machiavelli wrote (D) The Prince; and CervantesRead MoreAlbrecht Durer s Self Portraits2317 Words   |  10 Pagespositively, and this was credited to Erasmus of Rotterdam who was referred to as the greatest humanist of the time and also called the prince of humanists and the European scholar. Erasmus had a great reputation that princes and kings from Europe competed for his services at their courts. He was able to popularize the classical civilization with a collection of ancient proverbs, adages, and his commentaries6. His praise of folly was able to mock the vices and follies of the day and particularly thoseRead MoreAlbrecht Durer s Self Portraits2317 Words   |  10 Pagespositively, and this was credi ted to Erasmus of Rotterdam who was referred to as the greatest humanist of the time and also called the prince of humanists and the European scholar. Erasmus had a great reputation that princes and kings from Europe competed for his services at their courts. He was able to popularize the classical civilization with a collection of ancient proverbs, adages, and his commentaries6. His praise of folly was able to mock the vices and follies of the day and particularly thoseRead MoreGreek And Roman Classical Culture2251 Words   |  10 Pagesinterest in literary arts. (Cole, Joshua pg. 394-395) Erasmus and the Northern Renaissance: (1469-1536) Desiderius Erasmus was a humanist who rebelled against learning of Parisian academe. Born in Rotterdam, Netherlands Erasmus completed a bachelor’s degree in Divinity. In one of his works â€Å"The Praise of Folly† he discusses the gullibility within the church. He would go on to create his own Latin Translation Erasmus’s Greek New Testament. Erasmus used fictional characters to discuss controversial topics