"What a Piece of Work is Man"

"What a piece of work is man."
- Shakespeare's Hamlet (Act ii, Scene 2)

As Hamlet gives this famous soliloquy he reflects on both the inspiring and negative sides of the human condition. His deep analysis of the human condition on the level of the individual would not have been discussed without the enlightenment of the secular humanists of The Renaissance, and the Christian influence in The Reformation.

Humanism played a key role in the emergence of both The Renaissance and The Reformation. Although both embraced the ideals that humanism carried, the sources through which they approached their conclusions were different. The Renaissance thinkers took a secular approach as they read from rhetoricians and philosophers of antiquity (Cicero, Plato, Socrates, Isocrates, etc.). However, the pioneers of The Reformation developed their humanistic viewpoint with a realization of the spiritual individual, and through Biblical study.

The Renaissance

With the Black Plague behind them, early thinkers of The Renaissance had the task of re-evaluating the human condition and the meaning of life. These thinkers took it upon themselves to reopen the tomb like libraries filled with manuscripts written in "proper" Latin. Among these writings were the writings of Cicero, and his philosophical interpretations of humanism. Petrarch was one of the most important mouth pieces for Cicero in The Renaissance. People like Petrarch and Quintilian were intrigued by Cicero's articulation of the Latin language and sought to learn everything they could from those writings. This lead to the rebirth of the divine human and the rediscovery of the potential within each being.

The Transition

The early printing of Bibles, lead to experimentation in translation of the Biblical texts. The concept of going back to the sources was engrained in their approach to learning; people like Calvin Beza started printing Bibles with both the Latin text and the original Greek text side by side. The experimentation didn't stop there; despite the Catholic Church's refusal to translate the holy text to "common" language, the humanists wanted to give everyone a chance to live a rich "eloquent" life.

The Reformation

The translation of the Bible into an English printed script tends to take all the credit for The Reformation. There were many individuals who had a strong influence on the movement, but the motivation behind The Reformation stemmed from the original principles written in the Bible. Once the "plowman" was able to read for himself that man was created in the image of God, it made him question what was different between him and the wealthy cardinals. A new wave of humanism stemming from the sacred script was brought to light. These transcendent principles were even more influential than Aristotle, and even more available than any other script written up to that point.

Conclusion

These events are heavy weight-bearing pillars to the great structure we call "Western Civilization".  The Renaissance reintroduced the divine individual through secular Ad Fontes, and The Reformation through spiritual piety. Those of us who enjoy the freedoms of the sovereign individual can thank the great men and women whose works built the foundations where we plant our ensigns of freedom.
"What a piece of work is man."  

Photo Credit:

1. https://sententiaeantiquae.com/2017/05/09/tullys-tuesday-cicero-talks-about-sex/
2. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Christus_(Draft)_by_Thorvaldsen.jpg