Consequences Of The Humanistic Approach

Today’s websites are filled with information, opinions, and arguments on who created the novel. An example of a novel is the “Pamela”, or “Le Morte d'Arthur”, they were claimed to be the first novel written in the early fourteenth hundreds. But what is a novel? A very clarified definition is that it's a story written to teach you something, a verbatim definition is a relatively long work of narrative fiction, normally written in prose form, and usually published as a book. In addition, novels have changed greatly over time by increasing their genres, and one of these amusing genres is “Humanism”. Humanism refers to a perspective that affirms some notion of human freedom and progress. It's a progressive philosophy of life that, without theism or other supernatural beliefs. Furthermore, humanism is an attitude of thought which gives primary importance to human beings. Conversely “literary humanism is a devotion to the humanities or literary culture.”(American humanism society). Humanism commenced in the 13th century, due to the result of the Catholic reformation. “Humanism was an intellectual movement that originated in the 13th century”(thoughtco). Humanist literature which emphasizes, the beliefs of atheism and agnosticism, maintains unity, and purpose, characteristics, leading to many positive consequences.

The purpose of the genre is dispensed to everyone, but presented by specific people. The importance of literary humanism is to assist people through introspection and personal development. In fact, humanism is significant, because it affirms that human beings have the right and responsibility to give meaning and shape to their own lives (American humanist). To elaborate, humanism existed to spread the beliefs of aesthetics, and the agnostics. Atheists deny the belief in God or Gods, and they have no faith in a hereafter life, so they live thinking that there are no consequences. Similarly, agnostics believe that nothing is known, or can be known, about God or supernatural phenomena, and that it is wrong of people to claim otherwise (humanismUk). “Humanists do not generally believe in a supreme deity, demons, angels, in a supernatural world, in heaven and hell, or in a divinely ordained ethical code for humans to follow. Most would regard God as a creation of mankind rather than the reverse”(each).

Humanism has a variety of obliging and pleasing characteristics. Some of these characteristics are person fulfillment, belief in the human race, a free mind, and belief in good taste. Thereupon that manifests that humanism is about living life to the fullest, and equality. Additionally that humans can live ethical and fulfilling lives without religious beliefs. “Human beings derive their moral code from the lessons of history, personal experience, and thought”. Thus, humanists also believe in rational thinking, which is rationalism. Rationalism is simply a belief or theory that opinions and actions should be based on reason, and knowledge rather than on religious belief or emotional response. “They reject the idea of knowledge 'revealed' to human beings by gods, or in special books”. Therefore humanism is broken down to rationalism, because humanism is about doing what makes the human being comfortable, besides being happy, and they believe that they can make a change not God, therefore they rely on themselves. In fact, they view that supernaturalism is in the way of their essential matters and that without supernaturalism they will be able to live their life ethically, additionally, they will be able to obtain outstanding results. Furthermore, they obtained their goal to make significant changes towards humanity.

Political, religious, and cultural changes were the consequences of humanism. “It had a big impact on Europe, it created political and social changes.” (encyclopedia). Consequently, humanism ameliorated Renaissance literature. For instance, the Renaissance tried to inherit, or rather take as much literature as they can from the humanists. “They weren’t to be direct copies but drew on old models, picking up vocabulary, styles, intentions, and form.” Evidently, they didn’t plagiarize directly, yet they took the same notion. Additionally, because of the rise of humanism, the Renaissance started to be more popular. This particular example demonstrates that humanism brought good in the majority of the people/cultures. “Humanism began to affect culture and society and powered, in large part, what we now call the Renaissance.” (o)