Renaissance Christian Humanist vs. Machiavellian world viewsGreat Chain of BeingSlide 3Humanist viewsHumanist beliefsLanguageGreat Chain of Being system of analogyTutor MythMachiavellian World ViewRenaissance Christian Humanistvs. Machiavellian world viewsGreat Chain of BeingBelief structure from middle agesCame from Ptolemaic system with earth at the centerHierarchical system with God and angels above, man in the middle, and animals, plants, minerals on the bottom. Within each species, same hierarchy, with King on the top, then nobles, moneyed middle-class, then peasantsGreat Chain of BeingSystem of Order, corresponding with belief in predestination, God has plan for worldOrder can be thrown into chaos if hierarchy not adhered to, if subjects rebel against monarch, sons against fathersSuggests everyone has purpose or role in life, should use reason and/or to find and fulfill purposeHumanist viewsTo the Christian belief system, the Renaissance added the Humanist beliefs of self-determinism.There was still an Ideal beyond the world as we know it, but we were to strive to reach that Ideal (or at least be worthy of it)Thus two supposed opposites, predestination and free will, were combined in the Renaissance Christian Humanist belief systemThe Renaissance Christian Humanist’s purpose was to make of himself his ideal SelfHumanist beliefsThere is an Ideal Love (capital “L”) which is only possible in a timeless world of no changeOur real world love (lower case “l”) is an imperfect reflection of that Ideal Love; it shows us what to strive for, though we cannot achieve itThe same is true of Identity: there is an ideal person we could be, the perfect SelfThe real world self is weak and sinful but by striving to be a better person, using his reason and faith, he can work toward his potential SelfLanguageRenaissance Christian Humanist -- poetryMetaphoric or figurative language used to illustrate place in hierarchiesSince Sun and King are on top of their respective groups, they are joined together through metaphor Metaphoric or figurative language used to illustrate place in hierarchiesMachiavellian – proseScientific, logical language used to show importance of reasonGreat Chain of Beingsystem of analogyKingNoblesProfessionalsTrade workersPeasantsAngelsManAnimalsPlantsMineralsSunMoonPlanetsStarsLionLeopardFoxSquirrelfireairwaterearthReason, will (head/brain)Fancy, emotion (trunk/heart)Five senses (leg/liver)Yellow bileBloodPhlegmBlack BileTutor MythHistory as mirror, moral lessonGreat Chain of Being defines man’s existanceNature understood through BibleLanguage of analogyState microcosm of Divine worldDivine Right of KingsTime and change moving toward perfection; vertical concept of timeIdentity is temporal role moving toward spiritual essence (Ideal Self).Machiavellian World ViewHistory natural cycleNo overarching plan, chance or fortune onlyNature understood through science, reasonLanguage is scientific, logicalState/politics based on power not right (privilege or correctness)Time and change cyclical, not advancingIdentity plural, who we are in which situation or time, we can play many