Arzu and Ienke asked:

What was the influence of the early Greek philosophers on the philosophy in the Renaissance?

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In the transition period between the medieval period and the Renaissance, dissolution of the
synthesis between Christianity and the Philosophy of Aristotle takes place. Within this framework, a
revival of Classical Learning and Greek philosophy became available to the intellectual strata of
society. A resurgence of Stoicism and its influence is seen in the writing of Michel Montaigne. The
development of employing Sextus Empiricus skepticism in dealing with religion was now employed
rather than Scholastic reason.

The human aspect of life so prided by the Greeks begins to gain ground as philosophy moves away
from religion. Philosophers look at nature with a renewed sense of 'awe' that had once existed in
many of the Pre-Socratic philosophers. This development should not be seen as a separation or
rejection of religious principles, but rather as a means of affirming man's humanity. What develops is
a fresh look at Greek philosophy through new Western translations rather that through the eyes of
Moslem Arabian thinkers, rather than attempting to Christianize the Greeks so that they would be
acceptable to Christians, such as was attempted by Augustine, Aquinas and other theologians. The
Renaissance thinkers sought to exalt nature and man (Humanism) and Platonism, Aristotelianism,
Epicureanism and Stoicism were all employed for this purpose.

The unearthing of ancient Greek and Roman literature helped encourage this movement. Out of this
unsystematic development of philosophical thought, one finds the writings of Michel Montaigne.
Montaigne brings a new intellectualism to the atmosphere of the Renaissance, an atmosphere that
would analyze the structure of nature. Montaigne brought the skepticism to bear on the human side of
life. Note must be taken to remember that Classical skepticism (Empiricus and Pyrrho) was a method
of inquiring, the purpose of which was to determine what one truly knows and then combine it with
living an exemplary life.

Another example of Greek influence can be seen in the works of Erasmus. The enthusiasm he
displayed for Classical learning had a major impact during his lifetime. He both edited and translated
Greek literature. With the development of the printing press, Erasmus envisioned the popularization
and affordable access to ancient Greek knowledge to all intelligent readers.

The Greek influence can be seen in the arts and letters of the Renaissance period. Patrons such as
Cosimo de' Medici founded the Academy in Florence where Plato's philosophy took center stage. In
1440, with the Medici's Florentine Academy the entire body of Plato's works was for the first time
made available to scholars in the west. Plato was to be the rival of Aristotelian through the works of
Pletho who compared their philosophies.

In the works of Boccaccio, Michelangelo, and De Vinci, the beauty, sensual and minute subtleties of
the Greek depiction of the body reemerge. The Renaissance was a reemergence and emancipation
of the mind and spirit imbued with the passion that was once Greece. It must be emphasized that the
main means of philosophical inquiry remained Aristotelian. Even with the break from an Scholastic
tradition, Aristotle was still employed. As mentioned before, the difference was that Aristotelianism
was now based directly on the original Greek texts rather than on Arabic or Latin commentators.

John Eberts