The Philosophy Book

97

See also: St. Augustine of Hippo 72–73 ■ Thomas Aquinas 88–95 ■

René Descartes 116–23 ■ John Locke 130–33

T

he treatise In Praise

of Folly, which Erasmus

wrote in 1509, reflects

the Humanist ideas that were

beginning to flood across Europe

during the early years of the

Renaissance, and were to play

a key role in the Reformation. It

is a witty satire on the corruption

and doctrinal wranglings of the

Catholic Church. However, it also

has a serious message, stating that

folly—by which Erasmus meant

naive ignorance—is an essential

part of being human, and is what

ultimately brings us the most

happiness and contentment. He

goes on to claim that knowledge,

on the other hand, can be a burden

and can lead to complications that

may make for a troublesome life.

Faith and folly

Religion is a form of folly too,

Erasmus states, in that true belief

can only ever be based on faith,

never on reason. He dismisses the

mixing of ancient Greek rationalism

with Christian theology by medieval

philosophers, such as St. Augustine

of Hippo and Thomas Aquinas,

as theological intellectualizing,

claiming that it is the root cause

of the corruption of religious faith.

Instead, Erasmus advocates a

return to simple heartfelt beliefs,

with individuals forming a personal

relationship with God, and not one

prescribed by Catholic doctrine.

Erasmus advises us to embrace

what he sees as the true spirit of

t he S c r ipt u re s — s i mpl ic it y, n a ivet y,

and humility. These, he says, are

the fundamental human traits that

hold the key to a happy life. ■

THE MEDIEVAL WORLD

IN CONTEXT

BRANCH
Philosophy of religion

APPROACH
Humanism

BEFORE
354–430 CE St. Augustine
of Hippo integrates Platonism
into Christianity.

c.1265–1274 Thomas Aquinas
combines Aristotelian and
Christian philosophy in his
Summa Theologica.

AFTER
1517 Theologian Martin
Luther writes The Ninety-Five
Theses, protesting against
clerical abuses. It triggers the
start of the Reformation.

1637 René Descartes writes
Discourse on the Method,
putting human beings at the
center of philosophy.

1689 John Locke argues
for separation of government
and religion in A Letter
Concerning Toleration.

TO KNOW NOTHING

IS THE HAPPIEST LIFE

DESIDERIUS ERASMUS (1466–1536)

Happiness is

reached when a

person is ready to

be what he is.

Desiderius Erasmus