Humanism: The Struggle to Possess a Word
Glenn W. Olsen
THE BROAD OUTLINES of the story are well known. They center on prestigious place Renaissance in grand narrative Western civilization, that is ultimate progress so many have imbibed from their earliest years and, despite all, still cling to. 1 According to this narrative, man began gloriously Greece, more generally classical world, but then fell into darkness Middle Ages, only recover—or perhaps surpass—ancient achievement Renaissance, age rebirth. At heart rebirth was "Renaissance humanism," a turning obsession with God and soul exploration world humans all variety achievements. 2 From humanism flowed reform religion itself, birth science, good things. 3
Logos: A Journal of Catholic Thought and Culture