Sources for Western Society: Printed Page 185
| 12-4 | | A Humanist Prescription for the Education of Princes |
| DESIDERIUS ERASMUS, The Education of a Christian Prince (1516) |
Desiderius Erasmus (1462–1536) of Rotterdam was the foremost northern humanist. A priest, theologian, and teacher, Erasmus placed humanist scholarship in the service of religious reform. His work combines a humanist’s respect for reason and the value of the individual with an equally profound commitment to his faith. In this excerpt from The Education of a Christian Prince, Erasmus begins by discussing a classical metaphor for the relationship of the ruler to the state, and then uses this as a starting point for exploring the relationship between a Christian prince, his subjects, and God. As you read it, pay particular attention to the way in which he mixes classical and Christian concepts.
This selection has been omitted intentionally in this electronic edition.
From Desiderius Erasmus, The Education of a Christian Prince, trans. Lester K. Born (New York: Columbia University Press, 1936), pp. 175–178.
What metaphors did Erasmus use to describe the relationship of a prince to his people?
In Erasmus’s view, what qualities should a Christian prince embody? Why?
Erasmus argued that the ideal Christian prince ruled over a “free” people. How might he have explained this apparent contradiction? What similarities and differences do you see between his understanding of the meaning of freedom and your own?