The architecture of humanism; a study in the history of taste

THEACADEMIC TRADITION

191

II

Thereturn toclassicstyle inbuildingformspart

ofthegeneralmovementofRenaissanceHumanism

—

aphase

ofculturethat

touchedlifeateverypointand

presentseverywherethesamestrangecontradiction,

spontaneousinitsorigin,profoundinitsconsequence,

yetin

itsexpression often superficial

and pedantic.

Pedantryandhumanismhaveinhistorygonehand

in

hand

;

yet humanism in its ideal is pedantry's

antithesis.

Humanismistheeffortofmentothink,tofeel,and

to act

for themselves, and to abide by the logic

ofresults. Thisattitude of

spirit

is commonto

all

thevariedenergiesofRenaissancelife. Brunelleschi,

Macchiavelli,

MichaelAngelo,CesareBorgia,Galileo

arehereessentiallyatone. Ineachcasea

newmethod

issuddenlyapprehended,tested,andcarriedfirmlyto

itsconclusion. Authority,habit,orthodoxyaredis-

regarded or defied. The argument is

pragmatical,

realistic,human. Thequestion,

'

Hasthisnewthing

avalue

?

' is decided directly by the individual in

thecourtofhisexperience

;

andthere isnoappeal.

That isgood which is seen to satisfy the human

test,andtohavebroughtan

enlargement

of

human

power.

Power,infact

—

a.heighteningoftheconsciousness

of

poweraswell

as

a

wideningofitsscope

—

^wasthe