Humanism is a special type of philosophical worldview based on the idea of the highest value of man; for the philosopher-humanist, the human person is the center of the world, the measure of all things, the crown of God's creation.
Humanism in philosophy begins to form in the era of antiquity, its first definitions we find in the works of Aristotle and Democritus.
Humanism in the ancient tradition
What is humanism in the understanding of ancient sages? In the understanding of the philosophers of antiquity - this is the highest degree of development and flowering of the best opportunities and abilities of man. The individual must strive for self-realization, self-education; personality must be harmonious, ethically and aesthetically perfect.
In the Middle Ages, the ideas of humanism faded into the background, were obscured by the grim theories of religious asceticism, the killing of natural aspirations and needs for any person. The following were considered the main virtues: self-restraint, humility, belief in the original sinfulness of the human being.
The ideas and philosophical theories of the ancient era were forgotten for a long time, the
philosophers of Ancient Greece and Rome were declared erring pagans.
Renaissance humanism
Interest in the heritage of antiquity markedly increased only during the Renaissance. The influence of the church on the life of society has significantly decreased, science and art have ceased to be purely theological, more free, non-theological philosophical theories and teachings have appeared. The preservation, systematization and study of the works of philosophers and scholars of antiquity has become the main task of the humanists of modern times. Compulsory for them was the study of the languages of antiquity - Latin and ancient Greek.
In the awareness of Renaissance philosophers about what humanism is, a share of originality and originality has appeared. The humanism of the Renaissance is peculiar and unique. It was at that time that the importance of humanitarian knowledge became recognized by all; universal values (attention and respect for the feelings and needs of a person, compassion, empathy) were no less significant than, for example, religiosity, observance of church requirements and ceremonies.
The origins of Renaissance humanism are laid in the scientific works and artworks of the great Italians - Dante Alighieri and Francesco Petrarch. Thanks to the general atmosphere of freedom, the worship of beauty, and the attraction to new forms in art, it was possible the existence of a great phenomenon - a brief period of the High Renaissance (1500-1530). It was at this time that the geniuses of the Renaissance (Rafael Santi, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo) created the greatest works of art.
Over time, Renaissance humanism spread to the northern regions of Europe. It should be noted that the Northern Renaissance, in contrast to the Italian, was closer to the religious tradition. The main idea of Christian humanists is the improvement of man as the main condition for salvation. Let us analyze what humanism is in the understanding of the religious philosopher. Only following God's commandments, observing all the requirements of religion and holy books, can a person be purified, come closer to the ideals of goodness, beauty, harmony. Most vividly the ideas of theistic humanism showed themselves in the works of Erasmus of Rotterdam, Willibald Pirkheimer.
Modern philosophers also give their own answer to the question of what humanism is . The traditions of Renaissance humanism still do not give up their positions in the newest philosophy of Western Europe. Belief in human strength, reverential admiration for omnipotence, omnipotence of the individual, optimistic belief in the possibility of improving society - all this makes humanism the most progressive and productive course of modern philosophy.