Renæssanceforum 2 • 2006

Henning Nørhøj
Italian Renaissance Platonism

close window
The purpose of this article is to discuss the rebirth of Platonism in the Quattrocento by focusing on the influence of the platonic philosophy of Cusanus, Ficino and Pico Mirandola. Their interest in the philosophy of Plato has influenced the perception of Christianity and view of human nature. In his principal work, De docta ignorantia, Cusanus wrote that God is the Absolute One, who is all things, and all things are in God. Likewise Ficino aims to explain the harmony that is the innermost nature of existence. In his Oratio, Pico evoked the ideal possibilities of man and his formation through theology and philosophy.