Question

Which thinker originally preached about humanism?
A) Dante
B) Erasmus
C) Petrarch
D) Mechiavelli

Answer 1

Hint: Humanism is a philosophical position that stresses the individual and social potential and agency of humans. Human beings are seen as the beginning point for serious moral and philosophical investigation. The meaning of the term "humanism" has changed over time as a result of the various intellectual movements that have identified with it.

Complete answer:
Let us analyze the given options:
Option A) Dante: This is not the correct option because Dante’s principle encapsulates not just his personal life but also what he saw as the universal Christian search for God. As a result, Dante's persona is founded in the allegorical tradition of the Everyman: Dante's condition is meant to represent the entire human species.
Option B)Erasmus: This is not the correct option because Erasmus believed in the humanistic belief in an individual's capacity for self-improvement and in the central function of education in elevating humans above the level of brutal beasts.
Option C)Petrarch: This is correct option because Petrarch was a poet and scholar who paved the way for the Renaissance with his humanist philosophy. He is also regarded as one of the forefathers of modern Italian. His fans included Dante and others. Because he popularised the ancient world and literature study, Petrarch is often referred to as the "Father of Humanism." Many manuscripts in monasteries were rediscovered by him, and he had Greek works transcribed into Latin so that they could be read and studied more easily.
Option D) Machiavelli: This is not the correct option because The Prince, a short political treatise written by Machiavelli in 1513 but not published until 1532, five years after his death, is his most famous work. Although he privately disseminated The Prince among friends, The Art of War, a book about military science, was the sole theoretical work he published during his lifetime.

Thus the correct answer is option ‘C’ i.e, Petrarch originally preached about humanism.

Note: Petrarch (1304-1374), also known as Francesco Petrarca, is an Italian poet best known for his Canzoniere's Lyric poetry and is regarded as one of the world's finest love poets. He was the creator of humanism and a classical antiquity scholar. Petrarch is often referred to be the "first modern man."