Neoplatonism

Background

Urbino
- A court of culture
- Library, sculptures, paintings, and conversations
- Castiglione (at Urbino in 1507)
Uomo Universale
- A broadly educated person with an understanding of everything, though not an expert in any one thing
- Universal man i.e. Renaissance Man
- The ideal of Renaissance humanism
Neoplatonism
- Plato's idealism (Ideal Forms) rediscovered by the Renaissance
- Eternal absolutes
- Transcendence from the imperfect physical to the perfect ideal
- Everything may be understood in a 3-part division moving from:
  - The Concrete (earthly form) - Shadows on the wall of the cave
  - The Reasoned (man's ability to act on reflection rather than instinct) - The fire burning in the cave
  - The Intellect (pure understanding in the abstract) - The light leading man from the darkness of the cave

The Courtier Book IV

Three Neoplatonic themes
- The Platonic Courtier
  - Book I is the flower of the Courtier
  - Book IV is the essential fruit of the Courtier
  - To advise the prince
- Platonic Government
  - Rule of the one (Monarch vs Tyrant)
  - Rule of the few/best (oligarchy)
  - Rule of the many (Republic vs Mob rule)
- Platonic Love
  - Goal of love is to unit and become one
  - Earthly Vs Spiritual love
  - The eternity of Platonic/Rational Love
Three faculties of the human soul
- Senses - Instinctive and earthly not unlike an animal
- Reason - Reflective and rational unique to man
- Intellect - Opposite of the senses it is pure knowledge unfettered by earthly dross

Michelangelo's Sistine Ceiling Frescos

A Neoplatonic transcendence to God's divine knowledge<span class="text">It appears that you are running an older version of Netscape. Consider upgrading to the latest version (or Internet Explorer) to fully benifit from my web site.</span>
From earthly base appetites, through reason, to intellectual union with God's divine light
Michelangelo - Sistine Chapel