EUROPE Legacy of the Humanists EUROPEAN UNION NATIONAL INSTITUTES FOR CULTURE – EUNIC EUROPE – LEGACY OF THE HUMANISTS Humanitas hat makes human beings unique? This question was Wtaken up again during the Renaissance period upon For him, it was the rationality of language that differentiated humansreading thefrom works all other of the living Roman beings; writer it needed Cicero (106–43to be applied BCE). and precise manner, since the nurturing of the intellect saidin a refinedto be the nourishment of human dignity (humanitas humanitas implies,– and this over is andexpressed above thethrough modern language use of the– is ); term “humanity”, the aspect of „man as defined by his comprehensive intellectual wisdom“. Language, in its proper application,uch linguistic should and aim philosophical for truth and remarks the common touched good. a Scontemporary nerve amongst the Renaissance scholars, for the reigning academic and cultural drift of the times had reduced language to a practical framework which withhad to socio-political be structured, changes classified the and question definable; of human freedom dignity of tookthought on aand particular aesthetic dynamic, growth especiallywere not called during for. this Along period studia humanitatis,of transition. Based on the Classical archetype one now undertook studies that defined Man, the so-called individual wasthat now had called far-reaching upon to consequences.apply his reason For, and his language,along with to the question dissolution authority of existing and traditional thought patterns knowledge, the to form one’s own opinion, to take political responsibility, of the world through one’s own curiosity and to convey the same,to bring and in tothe open value one’s of one’s mind own in all experience, possible manner to get an beyond idea existing limits. These are the values upon which modern Europe should build itself. Europe – Legacy of the humanists Page B of B EUROPEAN UNION NATIONAL INSTITUTES FOR CULTURE – EUNIC Index The marvel that is Europe: France ...................................................26 Slovakia ................................................48 In dubio pro libertate ..........................2 Carolus Clusius Jacobus Faber .................................................26 Valentin Eck ................................................... 48 Literature........................................................... 7 ..............................................27 Johannes Sambucus ................................... 49 Genesis of the exhibition Germany ...............................................28 Spain .....................................................50 “Europe – Legacy of the Humanists” 8 Johannes Reuchlin .......................................28 Inca Garcilaso de la Vega ..........................50 Humanism – The source Franciscus Junius .........................................29 Miguel de Cervantes ................................... 51 of European values ..............................9 Great Britain ........................................30 Sweden .................................................52 Map of the European Humanists ..... 10 George Buchanan .........................................30 Erik Jönsson Dahlbergh ............................52 George Buchanan ......................................... 31 Anders Spole ...................................................53 Humanism in Europe .......................... 12 Greece ...................................................32 Switzerland ..........................................54 Petrarch Demetrios Chalkokondyles Conrad Gessner ............................................................ 12 .....................32 Heinrich Glarean ..........................................54 Erasmus .............................................................13 Ianos Laskaris ...............................................33 .............................................55 Austria .................................................. 14 Hungary ................................................34 Europa – Erbe der Humanisten .........................56 Elisabeth of Habsburg................................14 John Vitéz de Zredna ..................................34 EUNIC ....................................................57 Peter Lambeck ................................................15 Janus Pannonius ...........................................35 Bulgaria ................................................ 16 Italy .......................................................36 Logos .................................................................... 58 Filip Stanislavov Hristofor Zhefarovich ................................ 16 Manuel Chrysoloras ....................................36 ............................................17 Guarino da Verona .......................................37 Croatia .................................................. 18 Lithuania ..............................................38 Didak Pir Francisk Skorina ........................................................... 18 Motiejus Strijkovskis ..................................38 Filipa Lacea ..................................................... 19 .........................................39 Cyprus ...................................................20 Netherlands .........................................40 Europe – Legacy of the Humanists © EUNIC Stockholm, 2020 Franciscus Patricius Homepage: www.goethe.de/schweden Giasone De Nores ...................................20 Benedictus de Spinoza .............................. 40 Idea: ......................................... 21 Hugo Grotius ..................................................41 Dr. Christian Gastgeber and Prof. Elisabeth Klecker Czech Republic ....................................22 Poland ...................................................42 Concept and Project Management: Dr. Christian Gastgeber Project Management in Sweden: Bohuslaus Hassensteinius Andrzej Frycz Modrzewski .....................42 Daphne Springhorn a Lobkowicz ....................................................22 Wawrzyniec Grzymała Goślicki ............43 Cover image: Lithuanian Humanist Francisk Skorina, Portugal ................................................44 Elizabeth Jane Weston ..............................23 1517–1519 (© Lithuanian Academy of Sciences) Flanders ................................................24 Fernão de Oliveira Graphic Design: MU ateljeer Nicolaes Cleynaerts Damião de Góis Layout: Shutrick illustration ...................................... 44 Translation and final editing: Amrita Dhasa .....................................24 ..............................................45 Romania................................................46 A publication of Goethe-Institut Schweden Joan Lluís Vives .............................................25 Nicolaus Olahus Responsibility: Dr. Arpad-Andreas Sölter (Director, Goethe-Institut Schweden) ............................................ 46 Johannes Honter ...........................................47 Page 1 of 58 EUROPE – LEGACY OF THE HUMANISTS Introduction to the exhibition „Europe – Legacy of the Humanists” The marvel that is Europe: In dubio pro libertate Director of Goethe-Institut Sweden Dr. Arpad-Andreas Sölter, on its common history and shared values such as the varied forms of knowledge, eco- The solidarity of Europe and discourses Ironically, key aspects of the Western world, have a high priority in the work of the Goethe- nomy and state that have taken shape therein, Institut as a German cultural institution with with argumentative patterns of criticism of are repeatedly denounced. This often happens to actively engage within the framework of an a European perspective. This has motivated us logocentrism and phallocentrism are used in the culture and civilization. Buzzwords such as conceptual fog of discourses on decolonisation association of European cultural institutions (EUNIC) in giving shape to Europe for the future. The impetus reads: Occidental thinking as such By promoting the emergence of the multilingual and globalisation that are critical of modernity. European citizen, we see ourselves as a mediator porary viewpoints we also strive at the same of European thought. While presenting con tem- must be broken in order to overcome it! But to time to revitalise the cultural treasures of the subject to criticism that is hostile to science, technology and the economy exactly those the brilliance of the canon of values once created occidental civilisation in cultural comparison, past. For provenance is the future. However, has achievements of Europe that characterise the means to underestimate its contribution to to this question could be illustrated with the in Europe dimmed after all? The possible answer world civilisation. For they vouch for their help of two anecdotes. freedom, prosperity and cultural wealth. urope is apparently in the dock, said a n order to recognise this, one need not pay E Ihomage to ethnocentrism nor sell oneself to Brasilian delegate at the opening of an inter- national debate on European values at a recent European triumphalism: the greatest economy, event in Goethe-Institut Stockholm. Its defence the largest export, the best education for history of violence and for the crimes committed the only welfare state with human and civil is no longer viable. In view of its appalling the vast majority (even if not for everyone), through colonialism, imperialism and racism, it endure ambivalences