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Samenvatting - Being an Erasmian (FW-ED3022)
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Summary Being and ErasmianL ECTUR E 1: ER ASMU S AS INT EL ECTU AL
Han van Ruler will introduce the life and works of Erasmus of Rotterdam, focusing on his essay about the free will (De Libero
Arbitrio). We will discuss how Erasmus’s values are relevant for contemporary discussions of academic freedom and will develop our own
views on academic values.
READINGS
Read Erasmus (1987) Two Adages’ (see Literature) prior to the lecture. This text will the basis for our discussion on the
basis of questions that will be presented in class during the 3rd hour of Wednesday’s lecture.”
Festina Lente: make haste slowly. It is a contradiction.
It would mainly be important for kings and rulers because the consequences of their actions are bigger. And they are
more prone to virtue-less behavior as they are surrounded by flatterers.
You have to wait for the right moment for action, don’t hurry but also don’t leave action just because you are
indecisive. There is a balance between haste and inaction. The Latin matura: exactly on time, neither too early or too
late. Those who handle carefully are better than a quick daredevil.
There are 3 ways to use this:
1. Taking a long time to consider before starting something, but once you start you should be quick. →
prepare a war carefully so that once you start you can win it quickly.
2. Our emotions should be controlled by our reason. The erratic and agile movement of the soul is the
dolphin compared to the steady and calm anchor.
3. Avoid forwardness, it causes mistakes and regret.
You got Sparta, make the most from it: adjust yourself to what was handed to you and act with the dignity that it
deserves.
- You should encourage people to perform their task to the best of their abilities.
- Everyone should be happy with the faith that they have received (if you have plenty of money, make smart
use of it. If you have little, enjoy the possibilities that this creates). Go for optimal use of what you have.
- It goes wrong when kings involve themselves outside of their own borders. Kings should ensure that it
goes well with their own country and citizens, and not endanger them with war. Kings can find their honor
inside their country. And being a good ‘neighbor’ is advantageous for both countries.
ERASMUS’ LIFE
He was born in Rotterdam, his grandmother lived in the monument that we visited. He had a very successful family
of surgeons and doctors. However, he was the son of a priest, thus a bastard child. He left Rotterdam and never
returned. He travelled through most of Europe. He spends his teenage years in Deventer which was the only place
in Northern Europe to study the Renaissance style (classic Greek and Latin texts). His mother died so he went to a
school in Den Bosch which wasn’t a success. Then we send to a Monastery near Gouda. He did not like singing etc
but he loved the books and made friends. He also developed his own style of Latin. He goes to Italy with a
nobleman and then travels Europe for the rest of his life.
He became famous due to the printing press, he was the first bestselling author. This is also why he strived for a
trademark and copyright. He worked at the printshop of Aldus (considered to be a high quality printshop). In that
time print shops can be seen as small universities where new books were being created with the help of scholars.
, Erasmus was a Christian theologian. His philosophy consisted of the ideas in the New Testament of the bible,
Christ’s message was the philosophical message. His other inspiration was Plato (whom was similar to Jezus
according to Erasmus). There was no difference between being a Christian and being a philosopher. This means:
➔ Justice
➔ Being honest
➔ Rule of law
➔ Open society → similar to the ideals that we have now.
This is also what is important to Erasmus politically as seen in the ‘on the education of a Christian prince’. → be fair
in your politics, so adhere to the rule of law and avoid corruption.
He was a religious idealist but his ideas are quite similar to what we have now. He is a pre-modern philosopher but
his ideas were quite modern (think of ideas like Making Minds Matter and Creating positive social impact).
HIS WORKS
Erasmus wrote a lot of books and letters covering many subjects like:
- Style and writing
- Manners and education → he can be seen as the first pedagogue.
- Praise of folly → the moral work
- Translation of the New Testament from the original text
- Adagia → the proverb collection
- Many bible commentaries
- Works on how to pronounce Latin so that everyone can understand each other.
- Colloquia → short funny Latin stories on how to understand and use Latin.
- Editions of ancient writings
- Editions of church fathers as he was a theologian. → He wished to translate them so that it could be useful
for the everyday life of people.
- Picture of the man with a funny face, that would show that by making fun of a peasant you are not a
peasant. He did not want people to belief like this, a ‘reformation of manners’.
PRAISE OF FOLLY (1511)
Lady Folly is the main character in this satirical book. It is a complicated book about:
- Human failure
- Critical about society
- The folly of faith in a corrupt way as the end of the book.
Philosophy and religion as non-natural forms of mental transformation towards reason. The important thing is not
the outside, the rules and the etiquette, but it is the inside where you transform your mind with religion and
philosophy.
THE EDUCATION OF A CHRISTIAN PRINCE (1516)
The work was addressed to Charles V and pleaded for a focus towards peace not war. Don’t focus on lands that
have to be conquered but focus on domestic politics. So, use the ideas of Plato and Christ to build your nation and
promote their morals:
- Good education
- Just taxation
- Rule of law
- Mild punishments
- Free speech
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