Humanism has constantly proclaimed the belief that the only way to improve man's life on earth is to make man himself wiser and better. Unfortunately, the voice of the humanists has always been challenged by the loud and cheap promises of scientists, by the inflammatory tirades of politicians, and by the apocalyptic visions of false prophets. Material greed, nonsensical chauvinism, racial prejudice, and religious antagonism have progressively defiled the inner beauty of man. Today's bankruptcy of man's dignity in the midst of an unparalleled material abundance calls for an urgent revival of humanistic ideals and values. This book was planned from its very start as a modest step in that direction. It is not my intention, however, to attempt, once again, a global interpretation of Humanism in general, or of Renaissance Humanism in particular. I have been dissuaded from such a purpose by the failure of contemporary scholars to agree on such basic issues as whether the Renaissance was a total break with or a continuation of medieval culture, whether it was basically a Christian or a pagan movement, whether it was the effect or the cause of the classical revival. Instead, then, of discussing the significance of sixteenth century humanism, this book concentrates upon the life and the thought of a single humanist.

Inhalt

One The Life of Juan Luis Vives.- 1. The Vicissitudes of Vives' Fame.- 2. The Legacy of Valencia (1492-1509).- 3. The Student of Montaigu (1509-1512).- 4. From Bruges to Louvain (1512-1523).- 5. Vives in England (1523-1528).- 6. Isolation, Maturity, and Death (1528-1540).- Two Vives' Thought.- 7. In the Steps of Erasmus and Beyond.- 8. The Eclectic Criticism of Vives.- a. Philosophy of History.- b. Principles of Critical Evaluation.- c. Concrete Historical Interpretations.- 9. Vives on Education.- a. General Principles of Vives' Pedagogy.- b. Educational Policy.- c. Special Students: Princes, Women, the Poor.- d. The Curriculum.- 10. Individual and Social Ethics.- a. The Naturalistic Emphasis.- b. Virtue and Domestic Society.- c. The Body Politic.- d. The International Community.- 11. Range and Purpose of Human Knowledge.- a. Faith and Reason.- b. Knowing as a Reliable Instrument of Action.- c. The "Notiones Communes".- 12. The Process of Knowledge.- a. Vegetative and Sense Operations.- b. Intellectual Process.- c. The Passional Interference.- 13. The Significance of Vives' Thought.- a. Rhetoric and the Logic of Persuasion.- b. Medicine and "Art".- c. Jurisprudence and Moral Wisdom.- d. Vives' Position in the History of Education.- e. A Final Word.- Appendix I. Editions of Vives' Main Works from 1520 to 1650.- Appendix II. Chronological List of Vives' Books.- Index of Names.