How good a speaker is Ambrose, and what does Augustine learn about rhetoric from listening to Ambrose's sermons?
Ambrose is an extremely talented speaker that Augustine found truth in, and greatly enlightened him spiritually. Ambrose "straightforwardly expounded the truth" to Augustine, which shows his skill as an orator, because he was clearing up the spiritual fog that Augustine had battled with for years, and he did it in a very skilled manner. Ambrose did not speak often outside of sermons however. Augustine says, "... his habit of reading silently was his need to conserve his voice, which was very prone to hoarseness. But whatever his reason, the man undoubtedly had a good one." Ambrose was obviously a very talented and convincing orator, and this showed Augustine that rhetoric did not have to be for show, but could contain great amounts of truth even in a small amount of words. This revolutionized his thinking about truth, and showed him all of the flaws and traps that he had fallen into because of those who were leading him.
Monday, September 26, 2016
Sunday, September 11, 2016
"The Book of the Courtier" and the Oration on the Dignity of Man"
1. "Admiration for Greek and Roman political institutions supported a revival of civic humanist culture in Italian city-states and produced secular models for individual and political behavior." Based on your reading of "The Book of the Courtier" explain how Castiglione's writing might exemplify this statement. Give evidence from the text to support your claim.
Castiglione's writing might reflect this statement because his writing is speculation on what the ideal Courtier would be like, and his speculation includes that the Courtier should be beneficial to the society of his city. He says, "... and in his outward aspect give promise of whatever is worthy the society and favor of every great lord." (pg. 405) This goes along with the ideal of civic humanist culture because it is putting value on how the social aspect of the Courtier's position. Castiglione also shows an ideal of a secular model for political behavior in that he says the Courtier should be nobly born. He writes, "I wish, then, that this Courtier of ours should be nobly born and of gentle race; because it is far less unseemly for one of ignoble birth to fail in worthy deeds." (pg. 404) This shows his value not on the divine power in the Courtier, as might've been valued in previous times, but now in the secular value of status at birth and social position.
2. "Italian Renaissance Humanist promoted a revival in classical literature and created new approaches to ancient texts. Some Renaissance humanists furthered the values of secularism and individualism." Based on your reading of "Oration on the Dignity of Man", explain how Della Mirandola's treatise might exemplify this statement. Give evidence from the text in support of your claim.
Della Mirandola's treatise exemplifies this statement because a common theme that can be found in his writing is the great chain of being. The great chain of being is a Renaissance worldview that gives a universal order to all creature and creators, so it is very individualistic and secular. Mirandola exemplifies this in many places in his writing. He says, "All was now complete; all things had been assigned to the highest, the middle, and the lowest orders." This shows his belief in the great chain of being as his worldview. He also says, "He therefore took man as a creature of intermediate nature, and assigning him a place in the middle of the world." This shows his view of where man fits into the great chain of being, which again supports the view of secularism and individualism.
Castiglione's writing might reflect this statement because his writing is speculation on what the ideal Courtier would be like, and his speculation includes that the Courtier should be beneficial to the society of his city. He says, "... and in his outward aspect give promise of whatever is worthy the society and favor of every great lord." (pg. 405) This goes along with the ideal of civic humanist culture because it is putting value on how the social aspect of the Courtier's position. Castiglione also shows an ideal of a secular model for political behavior in that he says the Courtier should be nobly born. He writes, "I wish, then, that this Courtier of ours should be nobly born and of gentle race; because it is far less unseemly for one of ignoble birth to fail in worthy deeds." (pg. 404) This shows his value not on the divine power in the Courtier, as might've been valued in previous times, but now in the secular value of status at birth and social position.
2. "Italian Renaissance Humanist promoted a revival in classical literature and created new approaches to ancient texts. Some Renaissance humanists furthered the values of secularism and individualism." Based on your reading of "Oration on the Dignity of Man", explain how Della Mirandola's treatise might exemplify this statement. Give evidence from the text in support of your claim.
Della Mirandola's treatise exemplifies this statement because a common theme that can be found in his writing is the great chain of being. The great chain of being is a Renaissance worldview that gives a universal order to all creature and creators, so it is very individualistic and secular. Mirandola exemplifies this in many places in his writing. He says, "All was now complete; all things had been assigned to the highest, the middle, and the lowest orders." This shows his belief in the great chain of being as his worldview. He also says, "He therefore took man as a creature of intermediate nature, and assigning him a place in the middle of the world." This shows his view of where man fits into the great chain of being, which again supports the view of secularism and individualism.
Monday, September 5, 2016
Augustine and the Pears
2. Is the writer Augustine being too harsh in the way he looks back on his relationships with his friends with whom he stole the pears?
I don't think that Augustine was being too harsh in the way he looks back on his relationships with his friends. Augustine says explicitly that friendship is a tender bond between humans that God created, so he is not saying that friendship is bad. He says however that the relationship in friendship can be abused, and people can motivate their friends to do sinful things. This is what Augustine's analysis of his friendship with these boys was; that the bond between him and his friends was a sinful one, and it caused him to do sinful things. This lines up with his view of sin in general- that everything made by God is good, but we as sinful beings can abuse the relationship of those things, and that is where sin happens.
I don't think that Augustine was being too harsh in the way he looks back on his relationships with his friends. Augustine says explicitly that friendship is a tender bond between humans that God created, so he is not saying that friendship is bad. He says however that the relationship in friendship can be abused, and people can motivate their friends to do sinful things. This is what Augustine's analysis of his friendship with these boys was; that the bond between him and his friends was a sinful one, and it caused him to do sinful things. This lines up with his view of sin in general- that everything made by God is good, but we as sinful beings can abuse the relationship of those things, and that is where sin happens.
Thursday, September 1, 2016
Confessions Blog
3. How does Augustine's behavior as a young boy, especially his first prayer ("By calling upon you I untied the knots of my tongue and begged you, in my little- boy way but with no little earnestness, not to let me be beaten at school.) illustrate his need for a true education?
Augustine's behavior as a young boy illustrated his need for a true education because he had the misconception that his relationship with God was that he was there to grant him his wishes. He did not see that a relationship with God is mutual, and that God is not a genie sent to answer your prayers when you ask for something. He needed an education of God to show him the mercy of God, and to show him that he was on the wrong path. He was on the path of following his passions and desires, and he needed to be shown that there was a better path to take.
Augustine's behavior as a young boy illustrated his need for a true education because he had the misconception that his relationship with God was that he was there to grant him his wishes. He did not see that a relationship with God is mutual, and that God is not a genie sent to answer your prayers when you ask for something. He needed an education of God to show him the mercy of God, and to show him that he was on the wrong path. He was on the path of following his passions and desires, and he needed to be shown that there was a better path to take.
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