PS390 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Erasmus, Renaissance Society, Middle Ages
Document Summary
Philosophy, science, and psychological thought in the renaissance. Renaissance society was organized in strict hierachical form and patriarchy remained strong, though a few women played major political roles. Intellectual authority of church was weakened and a spirit of inquiry was heightened. Rather than focusing on theology, society concentrated on collection and handling of info required for business, military, and government taxation. These trends facilitated the birth of modern science in the 16th and 17th centuries. Intellectually, socially, and politically, at least 6 developed distinguished the renaissance from the medieval period: (1) humanism. System of thought stressing human rather than divine matters shaped psychological thought. Fundamentally secular, returning to ancient greek notions that exalted intelligibility and reason. Reason and understanding nature are the best ways to improve society/achieve good life. Desiderius erasmus (1467-1536) criticized extant social hierarchies and stimulated social reform, aided early development of the upheaval in christianity (2) mechanically printed texts.
