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Overview
Desiderius Erasmus was one of the most influential writers of his time and widely acclaimed as the principal Northern humanist. Not only was he a man of letters but also a shrewd observer of society, a sharp critic of the institutional Church, and a scholar on the cutting edge of biblical studies. Although not a systematic philosopher or theologian, he left his stamp on the intellectual milieu of his time and was regarded by Catholic apologists as the inspirational source of the Lutheran reformation. In this book, Erika Rummel introduces readers to Erasmus' ideas on education, piety, social order and the epistemology underpinning his thought. The educational programme proposed by Erasmus aims at creating a Christian humanist, speaking with Ciceronian eloquence and breathing the spirit of the gospel. The perfect piety envisaged by Erasmus involves a progression from the observance of rites to inner devotion and a love of Christ that guides every action.Synopsis
Desiderius Erasmus (1466-1536) was not a systematic philosopher, warns Rummel (history, U. of Toronto), and his writings contain inconsistencies and ambiguities unless each is examined in terms of the specific context and audience for which it was written. She follows his physical and mental progression chronologically, focusing successively on literature and education, piety, political thought, biblical scholarship, and theological controversy. Two important autobiographical works are considered first, to overview his life and how he thought about it. Other chapters look at his educational philosophy, the social order, his biblical humanism, and why he was no Lutheran. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR