Petrarch and St. Augustine : classical scholarship, Christian theology, and the origins of the Renaissance in Italy / by Alexander Lee.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Lee, Alexander (Historian)

Series:

Brill's studies in intellectual history ; v. 210.

Brill's studies in intellectual history, 0920-8607 ; v. 210

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Humanism--Italy--History.

Humanism.

Renaissance--Italy.

Renaissance.

Italy--Intellectual life.

Italy.

Petrarca, Francesco, 1304-1374--Religion.

Petrarca, Francesco.

Augustine, of Hippo, Saint, 354-430--Influence.

Augustine.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (392 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Leiden ; Boston : Brill, 2012.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Despite the high regard in which Francesco Petrarca (1304-74) held St. Augustine, scholars have been inclined to view Augustine’s impact on the content of Petrarch’s thought rather lightly. Wedded to the ancient classics, and prioritising literary imitation over intellectual coherence, Petrarch is commonly thought to have made inconsistent use of St. Augustine’s works. Adopting an entirely fresh approach, however, this book argues that Augustine’s early writings consistently provided Petrarch with the conceptual foundations of his approach to moral questions, and with a model for integrating classical precepts into a coherent Christian framework. As a result, this book offers a challenging re-interpretation of Petrarch’s humanism, and offers a provocative new interpretation of his role in the development of Italian humanism.

Contents:

Preliminary Material

Introduction

I. A Question of Attribution

II. Stoicism and ‘Augustinianism’ in the Secretum

III. All in the Mind: Otium in the De Otio Religioso

IV. The Hidden Life of Solitude

V. The Holy Passion of Friendship

VI. Eloquence and Philosophy

Epilogue

Bibliography

Index.

Notes:

Originally presented as the author's thesis (Ph. D.--University of Edinburgh).

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1-280-12676-0

9786613530622

90-04-22602-8

OCLC:

782879951

Publisher Number:

10.1163/9789004226029 DOI