Full Name: Desiderius Erasmus
Born: January 28, 1466
Place of Birth: Rotterdam, Burgundian Netherlands, Leo Belgicus
Died: July 12, 1536 (aged 69)
Place of Death: Basel, Old Swiss Confederacy
Era: Renaissance
Region: Western Philosophy
Main Interests: Christian philosophy, Renaissance humanism
Desiderius Erasmus (1466–1536) was a major figure of the Northern European Renaissance, a scholar of classical literature, a humanist thinker, and a theologian.
Life
Today, Erasmus of Rotterdam is recognized as one of the creators and foremost representatives of the humanist movement that emerged with the Renaissance. He was born in 1465 in Rotterdam, Netherlands. After completing what would be equivalent to today’s secondary education, he joined the Augustinian order and became a priest. However, he never actively served as a priest in the traditional sense. Wishing to devote himself to scholarship, he received special permission from religious authorities not to wear the priestly robe. He continued his studies at the University of Paris.
In 1499, Erasmus traveled to England, where he met intellectuals such as John Colet and Thomas More. These friendships significantly broadened his intellectual horizon. Opposing the dominance the Papacy held over thought, he sought the true spirit of Christianity in the simplicity of antiquity. He considered the spread of arts and sciences, and the unification of Europe under a common cultural and intellectual vision, to be essential goals of humanism.
Through his original works and translations, Erasmus made immense contributions to the dissemination of ancient thought across Europe. Although he agreed with the idea of reforming the Church when Martin Luther launched his reforms, he strongly opposed the chaos and fragmentation these reforms brought upon the Christian world.
By the time he died in Basel in 1536, Erasmus had earned such a revered place in European intellectual life that even popes would visit him. Throughout his life, he spoke and wrote in Latin. Yet, his final words were uttered in his native tongue: "lieve God" (dear God). In Praise of Folly (original title: Moriae Encomium seu Laus Stultitiae) remains his most vibrant, relevant, and captivating work to this day. Erasmus sketched the outline of this small book in the summer of 1509 during a journey from Italy to England. He completed the writing shortly after arriving at the home of his friend Thomas More in England and dedicated the work to him. Erasmus completed the book in just a few days and did not consult any other texts during its composition.
Thought and Works
Two central ideas dominate this satirical work. According to one, true wisdom is madness. According to the other, believing oneself to be wise is the truest form of madness. What gives humans the strength to endure life on earth is madness itself, directly linked to true wisdom. In the book, Folly (Stultitia) praises herself, demonstrating how folly prevails in childhood and old age, in love, marriage, and friendship, in politics and war, in literature and science. All fields of human endeavor—especially the religious institution and its clergy—are displayed within this panorama.
Under the guise of personifying Folly, Erasmus directs his harshest criticisms at the Church and its clergy. In this way, In Praise of Folly has long been considered one of the finest masterpieces ever written against fanaticism. The fact that it has been interpreted, rightfully so, as a critique of all forms of dogmatism in the centuries that followed its publication is perhaps the main reason for its lasting relevance.
From a literary standpoint, In Praise of Folly is considered one of the most brilliant examples of the Latin poet Horace’s principle: "to tell the truth with a smile." In terms of style, Erasmus was also inspired by Lucian and Libanius, whose works he had previously translated.
Source: Wikipedia – The Free Encyclopedia