Education and Humanity

"We are born to communicate with one another"

The Humanists were convinced that an educated person will also act decently. Linguistic and literary education will also bring goodness rectitude. The humanists called that humanitas. The concept goes back to Seneca and Cicero. “Humanity” means that human beings are no longer guided by their selfish interests. Instead they follow the universal human moral imperatives and prohibitions. They will consider moderation, harmony, compassion, orderliness and open-mindedness as virtues. A “humane” person feels responsible for society.

The Humanists consider the education and training of people to be their most important responsibilities.

Sebastian Brant was a humanist from the upper Rhine. In The Ship of Fools , that first appeared in 1494, he invented a character called Grobian (German : grob ), whose name expressed his nature, that of a rough brute. With this rough and sometimes violent person, Brant wanted to hold up a mirror to his readers and thereby encourage them to strive for education, virtue and humanity.

Marcus Tullius Cicéron (103-43 av JC) © Rome, Musées du Capitole
Grobian (rough brute) © Collection privée

Progress in the exhibition

Bibliography

  • Sites
    • www.melanchthon.com | Link

Associated notes

  • Philipp Melanchthon (1497-1560)

    Melanchton was a humanist and a theologian who adapted Luther’s ideas. His attempts to reconcile the different reformation trends failed.
  • The Melanchthon House in Bretten (Germany)

    The great humanist and famous reformer Philipp Melanchthon, born in Bretten in 1497, was an intimate friend and collaborator, of Luther. A museum in Bretten bears his name, it was...