Praise Of Folly

8 Pages 1915 Words

The Praise of Folly



Before we talk about Desiderius Erasmus and his writing The Praise of Folly, it must be discussed on how the Renaissance came into play and affected the various people including Erasmus. The Renaissance was basically a blending of Classical themes with Christian themes. Erasmus and many others at the time such as Sir Thomas Moore were humanists. Humanists at the time were the drive of the Renaissance. They believed in the realism of an individual and the natural capacities of the self. There were many different kinds of Humanists such as French Humanists, Spanish, and English and Northern European Humanists which Erasmus was a part of. Most dealt with religion and the Christian faith. This new time with a mixed way to look the world, people were able to express how they felt about certain aspects of the political, economical, and social order for the time. Such people as Erasmus made the humanism movement wide-spread and not just a local movement but into an international way of thinking. Erasmus and his colleges challenged the very ideas of the Christian hierarchy to the secular princes and rulers of Europe at that time. These ideas made Erasmus and some others stand out from the other humanists at the time.
One topic that must be discussed is the idea that Erasmus was very different then most other humanists. At the time, there were many idealists who wanted to change the way the Roman Catholic Church worked. These people such as Luther wanted a reformation in the religious doctrine and practice of the religion. This is why Luther left the church and went his own way. Erasmus on the other hand, was different in a sense that he was more for moral reform in the church and did not leave the church like the others. One moral reform he talks about in The Praise of Folly was that of how the church leaders should care more about their religion and their “flock” then lining their pockets full...