An Historian's Notes for a Miloszan Humanism
Michael Edward Moore
An Historian's Notes for a Miloszan Humanism Michael Edward Moore (bio) "O my love, where are they, they going" —Czeslaw Milosz, "Encounter" (1978, 3) The awkward term "humanism" has served as the title of too many movements and ideals, seems drained significance, like wrinkled old balloon. To speak revising retrieving new form humanism, will be done here, is to invite possible misconceptions. In strict, traditional meaning, in context Renaissance humanism its later reflections, refers an attempt affirm dignity human spirit, renew modern culture by return antiquity. These goals were achieved through study things (res humana), means scholarship literature, history arts. regard possibilities today, drawing on poetry essays Czeslaw I wish suggest following theses: • A appropriate our world, hoped-for world civilization, can intellectually spiritually grounded 'old humanism' medieval background. would valuable position, even source joy, because purposes: provide resources personal liberation confrontation certain poisonous contemporary cultural political realities with ancient alternatives. [End Page 191] prove beneficial it neither project ideal humanity nor offer historicist transforming humans into humanity. Such further, rely real contact living dead, which important dimension Milosz's poetry, wishing away idealizing them, implying importance broad tradition. goal then be, not humanize but craft engaged, highly cultured scholarly standpoint, thus scholar, or rather, self. This view literature deliberate unfolding dimensions, search connections various traditions past part own efforts achieve liberation, "penetrating this forest ruins," phrase religious historian Gershom Scholem, who sought rescue Jewish from oblivion, thereby find foothold terrible present time—for 1920s. letter Meta Jahr 1920, Scholem said that he had experienced merger his historical kabbalism, claiming, perhaps ironically, become makubel kabbalistic practitioner (209). Any humanist approach valid today must greatly expand range literary antiquities under study, something recently been called admirable essay Milan Kundera, "Die Weltliteratur." specialist rare fragments, collected out distant past, arranged explained beautiful seashells. Scholarship, when true causes these fragments glow if renewed life, allowing them spiritual world. Since Middle Ages, pursuit life often involved juxtaposition interchange reading, reflection, prayer meditation. growing awareness, cultivated school Chartres, "truth daughter time," Bernard Chartres exclaimed, led incorporation tradition developing scholarship. Bernard's motto, Veritas filia Temporis, we may note passing, was learned reference Attic Nights Aulus Gellius (see Chenu 162; Ginzburg 27). discussion some reflections 192] revival interest Greek Latin classics, hallmark culture, during Ages also flourishing Renaissance. Various attempts revive moralising, normative such New Irving Babbitt, have failed. After all, classics-loving poet T.S. Eliot could not...
Journal of Narrative Theory