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'''Humanism''' is a summary term for intellectual currents, some of which are very heterogeneous. What they have in common is that they design an ideal of society and education that is intended to promote the best possible development of the individual personality in the service of the social community. After the old spiritual sources, which were only carried on in tradition without being understood, had finally dried up, a new search for the essence of the [[human being]] began. Depending on the ideological position, very different, often completely contradictory models were developed in accordance with the associated image of man. The roots of humanism already lie in antiquity, to which the '''Renaissance humanism''' that emerged at the dawn of the [[consciousness soul age]] in the time of the [[Renaissance]] in clear distinction from the [[w:Middle Ages|Middle Ages]] also fell back, which was inspired in particular by [[w:Francesco Petrarch|Francesco Petrarch]] (1304-1374) and had its outstanding centre in [[w:Florence|Florence]] and radiated from here to the whole of [[w:Europe|Europe]].
'''Humanism''' is a summary term for intellectual currents, some of which are very heterogeneous. What they have in common is that they design an ideal of society and education that is intended to promote the best possible development of the individual personality in the service of the social community. After the old spiritual sources, which were only carried on in tradition without being understood, had finally dried up, a new search for the essence of the [[human being]] began. Depending on the ideological position, very different, often completely contradictory models were developed in accordance with the associated image of man. The roots of humanism already lie in antiquity, to which the '''Renaissance humanism''' that emerged at the dawn of the [[consciousness soul age]] in the time of the [[Renaissance]] in clear distinction from the [[w:Middle Ages|Middle Ages]] also fell back, which was inspired in particular by [[w:Francesco Petrarch|Francesco Petrarch]] (1304-1374) and had its outstanding centre in [[w:Florence|Florence]] and radiated from here to the whole of [[w:Europe|Europe]].


==Literature==
{{GZ|When we look at the more southern peoples, for example, when we look at the folk-soul of the Italian people, we have to do with an interaction of this folk-soul with the individual human being in such a way that what the folk-soul does, what it has to accomplish in a dialogue with the individual soul, flows directly into the sentient soul. So that one can say: In so far as the member of the Italian people is an Italian, he expresses himself out of the character of his people in such a way that the forces of his national spirit tremble, continue to have an effect in his sentient soul. It is with this sentient soul that the spirit of the people, the soul of the people, holds its dialogue. Of course, it must always be emphasised that the individual soul can rise and assume the general human character in every nation. What has been said here about the relations of the folk-soul to nationality applies precisely in so far as the individual in his expressions of life is connected with the folk-soul. And all that which excites the Italian folk soul in the individual sentient soul of the Italian is basically Italian culture. Hence the Italian culture that emerges directly from the passions, which can be traced from the individual popular impulses up to the mighty painting that Dante sketched of the world. This is why what is called humanism was also imprinted on European culture from Italy. The connection of the whole human being with the sentient soul through what one feels, what one has in the impulses of feeling, insofar as this comes to the fore, that flows through the whole of Italian culture.|64|294f}}
 
In the 16th century, [[w:Erasmus of Rotterdam|Erasmus of Rotterdam]] was one of the most respected and influential '''humanists''' in Europe north of the Alps.
 
The term "humanism" was only introduced in 1808 by the philosopher and educational politician [[w:Friedrich Immanuel Niethammer|Friedrich Immanuel Niethammer]] (1766-1848) in his pedagogical pamphlet "Der Streit des Philanthropinismus und Humanismus in der Theorie des Erziehungs-Unterrichts unsrer Zeit" (The Dispute between Philanthropinism and Humanism in the Theory of Educational Instruction in Our Time), in which he called for education to be oriented towards the "classical" antique models and the linguistic and literary knowledge ({{Greek}}, {{Latin}}) necessary for this.
 
{{GZ|A time is dawning in which humanity has the feeling that it can no longer reach itself with its insight. A search for knowledge of the human being begins. This cannot be satisfied by what the present is capable of. We go back historically to earlier times. Humanism rises in the development of the spirit. One strives for humanism not because one has man, but because one has lost him. As long as one had him, Erasmus of Rotterdam and others would have worked from a quite different nuance of soul than from what humanism was to them.|26|150f}}
 
== Literature ==
* [[Rudolf Steiner]]: ''Anthroposophische Leitsätze'', [[GA 26]] (1998), ISBN 3-7274-0260-1 {{Lectures|026}}
* [[Rudolf Steiner]]: ''Anthroposophische Leitsätze'', [[GA 26]] (1998), ISBN 3-7274-0260-1 {{Lectures|026}}
* [[Rudolf Steiner]]: ''Aus schicksaltragender Zeit'', [[GA 64]] (1959), ISBN 3-7274-0640-2 {{Lectures|064}}
* [[Rudolf Steiner]]: ''Aus schicksaltragender Zeit'', [[GA 64]] (1959), ISBN 3-7274-0640-2 {{Lectures|064}}

Revision as of 06:14, 4 June 2022

Francesco Petrarch, Detail of a fresco by Andrea del Castagno (c. 1450) Uffizi Gallery (Florence)

Humanism is a summary term for intellectual currents, some of which are very heterogeneous. What they have in common is that they design an ideal of society and education that is intended to promote the best possible development of the individual personality in the service of the social community. After the old spiritual sources, which were only carried on in tradition without being understood, had finally dried up, a new search for the essence of the human being began. Depending on the ideological position, very different, often completely contradictory models were developed in accordance with the associated image of man. The roots of humanism already lie in antiquity, to which the Renaissance humanism that emerged at the dawn of the consciousness soul age in the time of the Renaissance in clear distinction from the Middle Ages also fell back, which was inspired in particular by Francesco Petrarch (1304-1374) and had its outstanding centre in Florence and radiated from here to the whole of Europe.

„When we look at the more southern peoples, for example, when we look at the folk-soul of the Italian people, we have to do with an interaction of this folk-soul with the individual human being in such a way that what the folk-soul does, what it has to accomplish in a dialogue with the individual soul, flows directly into the sentient soul. So that one can say: In so far as the member of the Italian people is an Italian, he expresses himself out of the character of his people in such a way that the forces of his national spirit tremble, continue to have an effect in his sentient soul. It is with this sentient soul that the spirit of the people, the soul of the people, holds its dialogue. Of course, it must always be emphasised that the individual soul can rise and assume the general human character in every nation. What has been said here about the relations of the folk-soul to nationality applies precisely in so far as the individual in his expressions of life is connected with the folk-soul. And all that which excites the Italian folk soul in the individual sentient soul of the Italian is basically Italian culture. Hence the Italian culture that emerges directly from the passions, which can be traced from the individual popular impulses up to the mighty painting that Dante sketched of the world. This is why what is called humanism was also imprinted on European culture from Italy. The connection of the whole human being with the sentient soul through what one feels, what one has in the impulses of feeling, insofar as this comes to the fore, that flows through the whole of Italian culture.“ (Lit.:GA 64, p. 294f)

In the 16th century, Erasmus of Rotterdam was one of the most respected and influential humanists in Europe north of the Alps.

The term "humanism" was only introduced in 1808 by the philosopher and educational politician Friedrich Immanuel Niethammer (1766-1848) in his pedagogical pamphlet "Der Streit des Philanthropinismus und Humanismus in der Theorie des Erziehungs-Unterrichts unsrer Zeit" (The Dispute between Philanthropinism and Humanism in the Theory of Educational Instruction in Our Time), in which he called for education to be oriented towards the "classical" antique models and the linguistic and literary knowledge (Greek, Latin) necessary for this.

„A time is dawning in which humanity has the feeling that it can no longer reach itself with its insight. A search for knowledge of the human being begins. This cannot be satisfied by what the present is capable of. We go back historically to earlier times. Humanism rises in the development of the spirit. One strives for humanism not because one has man, but because one has lost him. As long as one had him, Erasmus of Rotterdam and others would have worked from a quite different nuance of soul than from what humanism was to them.“ (Lit.:GA 26, p. 150f)

Literature
References to the work of Rudolf Steiner follow Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works (CW or GA), Rudolf Steiner Verlag, Dornach/Switzerland, unless otherwise stated.
Email: verlag@steinerverlag.com URL: www.steinerverlag.com.
Index to the Complete Works of Rudolf Steiner - Aelzina Books
A complete list by Volume Number and a full list of known English translations you may also find at Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works
Rudolf Steiner Archive - The largest online collection of Rudolf Steiner's books, lectures and articles in English.
Rudolf Steiner Audio - Recorded and Read by Dale Brunsvold
steinerbooks.org - Anthroposophic Press Inc. (USA)
Rudolf Steiner Handbook - Christian Karl's proven standard work for orientation in Rudolf Steiner's Collected Works for free download as PDF.
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