Author:
XU Ruorong, Lecturer, School of Philosophy, Shaanxi Normal University.
Abstract:
Confronted with a conflict of values in the late Middle Ages, Desiderius Erasmus transformed the image of Silenus from ancient Greek philosophy into a central symbol of his Christian humanism. Erasmus employed the Silenic dichotomy as a basis for a reform program in both the sacred and secular realms. The image of Silenus symbolizes the inward turn of Erasmus's thought, in which the individual's inner transformation serves as the pivot point. Through the reordering of the mind, Erasmus envisaged a shift in the realm of cognition and the reconstruction of knowledge, which ultimately led to a transformation of values. The Erasmian inward-turning approach elevated human dignity and free will, while contributing to modern philosophy's development of the principle of immanence.
Keywords:
Desiderius Erasmus, Silenus, Christian Humanism, Metanoia
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