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20 Cards in this Set
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This is the complete opposite of Pope Innocent III. He believes that man has agency and can become like beasts or like divine beings. Shows transition to new ideas of human agency and virtu.
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Pico della Mirandola, Oration on the Dignity of Man
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Quotes a lot of scripture, mostly Paul and the Gospels. Mostly arguing that faith is the only thing needed, and that works don't get you into heaven. Debates works vs. faith.
This is important because it is one of the biggest parts of the heretic that was successful. Further, arguing that the doctrines, practices, and requirements of the church are not necessary for salvation takes away from the power of the church. |
Martin Luther, On the Freedom of a Christian (1520)
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Basically bashes Jews. Says their synagogues should be burned. Leaders should have no mercy on them. God hates them and thinks their children of the devil. And they lie a lot...
Showed the complexity of Luther. He stilled embraced many medieval ideas including antisemitism. He initially embraced them, but eventually hated them. |
Martin Luther, On the Jews and their Lies (1545)
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Starts off explaining because of divine law, certain people are above others, and man is above animals, and that sort of thing. Moves on to explain that the Indians are really people, and their customs are not on the same level as the Spanish. He calls them barabarians. Says they worship the devil/other gods and eat people.
Can still see humanism in this piece because he talks about how great "civilized" man is, but he just doesn't see these guys as people. |
Juan Gines de Sepulveda, Just War Against the Indians (1957)
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It established several key rights of the English monarch's vassals and later his subjects. It's important especially because it was the precedent for the English constitution and it also established habeas corpus, which is still important to citizens today.
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The Magna Carta (1215)
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This work is a precursor to scholastic theology. He argues that reason and critical thought can be a good supplement to faith when trying to comprehend religious questions.
His work (this one in particular) is distinguished by the way in which he explains how you can empirically use the bible as the reliable source, but reason for works written by other authors. Further, his emphasis is on "questioning" is the best way to approach reading scripture. Jesus questioned, Aristotle questioned, and questions excite young readers. |
Peter Abelard, Sic et No
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This brings back the traditions of rational inquiry, empiricism, and natural philosophy, but in accord with Christian theology.
In this piece he starts off explaining why divine revelation is important opposed to just reason. (nothing about questioning). Basically, there are things humans can't understand, and divine revelation is quicker. Then goes on to explain five reasons that God exists. All but the last play off of something needs to exist beforehand. Last is that things without a brain can't work without a God. |
Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica (1265-74)
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This shows very clearly the medieval view of mankind as inherently sinful and incapable of improvement.
His work just bashes mankind. There is literally nothing good about people, so if it just goes on talking about how disgusting people are, its mr. innocent over here. We're worm food, we like to sin, we're sad and can't escape that, |
Pope Innocent III, On the Misery of the Human Condition (1215)
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Describes the Native Americans in a degrading way, but as victims instead of beasts. Acts as though they are innocent children who want to learn the way from the Spanish, but the Spanish are too brutal. Continuously refers to the Spanish as "Christians"
Is seen as one of the first western defenders of non-western people, and one of the first critiques of Western Imperialism. |
Bartoleme de Las Casas, Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies (1542)
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Talks about Witches. I mean, anything that has to do with supernatural events be it astology, devils, stars, ect. Also, anything that refers to the wickedness of women. Reference to old testatment scripture. Also, if sexuality is brought into the picture, most likely this.
Show how seriously witches were taken during the witch craze. It also shows how nonsensical the matter was. |
James Sprenger and Heinrich Kramer, Malleus Maleficarum (1486)
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Main arguement is that the bible cannot be used to understand the natural world. That's only for the spiritual world. Does talk about bible having mistakes made by man, but he talks about using senses instead of reason. God gave us senses to understand.
This piece shows how he believed religion could hinder his pursuit of truth. His discoveries make the church look a little silly. It doesn't necessarily contradict the bible, just things the church made up to understand the world. |
Galileo Galilei, Letter to the Grand Duchess Christina of Tuscany (1615)
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Basically talks about empirically using the senses to understand things. You have to get rid of preconceived notions. Discusses Greeks/
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Francis Bacon, Novum Organum (1620)
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Talks about being empirical but puts an emphasis on thought experiments and mathematics. Also, points out that our senses sometimes trick us. Also, I think therefore I am.
Shows the transition to empirical thinking. A change in the way people find truth, but it also shows going back to best way is to use rational thought. |
Rene Descartes, Discourse on Method (1637)
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First part talks about man being equal. Second part talks about man having to give up his right to govern himself to someone else for the state to function.
We can see the start of modern political thought in his writings as he argues for absolutism on emerging concept of natural law according to which all men are inherently equal. |
Thomas Hobbs, Leviathan
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Often called father of the enlightenment. Has well known blank slate theory. He is an advocate of secular reasoning and natural law to shape politics. Believes that society has the right to break away from a government if that government abuses their rights.
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John Locke, Second Treatise on Government (1690)
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Thinks that democracy leads to despotism and that the best way to handle things is for philosopher kings to rule.
This presents his idea of philosopher kings being most fit to rule, and showing that he thought only special people were capable of intellectual thought and philosophy. |
Plato, The Republic
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Discusses the differences in a man who is proud, vain, and humble. Pride is a good thing, vanity is a bad thing. The virtuous man is proud.
Shows that Aristotle believes in human agency and that the individual is responsible for his won morality and ultimately happiness. And only the proud man is fit for political leadership. |
Aristotle, Ethics
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Socrates is talking about himself and defending himself. He's saying how he is wise because he knows he's not wise, and how he couldn't find anyone wiser.
One of the most important trials in Western Civilization because it shows that thinking differently, as intellectuals often do, can lead to trouble. One of the first great dissidents. |
Plato, The Apology
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He investigates history, and does it as empirically as possible to get to the truth.
He is considered the "father" of scientific history sometimes because this is the exact method historians today use. |
Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War
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Basically praising the Roman Empire for how amazing it was, and agreeing that democracy leads to despotism, but brings in this idea that it is just part of an endless cycle. He thinks the Roman system has checks and balances that solved this problem which makes it so great.
This is important because he saw the Roman constitution as the basis for a lasting and stable government, and he calls upon greeks to help prove his point. |
Polybius, The Histories
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