Humanism and the rhetoric of toleration

Description:

Religious toleration is much discussed these days. But where did the Western notion of toleration come from? Remer offers the surprising conclusion that humanist thinking on toleration was actually founded on the classical tradition of rhetoric. It was the rhetorician's commitment to decorum, the ability to argue both sides of an issue, and the search for an acceptable epistemological standard in probability and consensus that grounded humanist arguments for toleration. Remer also finds that the primary humanist model for full-fledged theory of toleration was the Ciceronian rhetorical category of sermo (conversation). The historical scope of this book is wide-ranging. Remer begins by focusing on the works of four humanists: Desiderius Erasmus, Jacobus Acontius, William Chillingworth, and Jean Bodin. Then he considers the challenges posed to the humanist defense of toleration by Thomas Hobbes and Pierre Bayle. Finally, he shows how humanist ideas have continued to influence arguments for toleration even after the passing of humanism - from John Locke to contemporary American discussions of freedom of speech.

subjects: Authors, Latin (Medieval and modern),  Christian literature, Latin (Medieval and modern),  Christianity,  Christianity and literature,  Classical influences,  History,  History and criticism,  Humanists,  Medieval and modern Latin prose literature,  Political and social views,  Religious aspects of Rhetoric,  Religious tolerance,  Renaissance,  Rhetoric,  Toleration in literature,  Christian literature, early, history and criticism,  Latin literature, medieval and modern, history and criticism,  Littérature chrétienne latine médiévale et moderne,  Histoire et critique,  Prose latine médiévale et moderne,  Écrivains latins médiévaux et modernes,  Pensée politique et sociale,  Influence ancienne,  Rhétorique,  Aspect religieux,  Christianisme,  Tolérance religieuse,  Histoire,  Christianisme et littérature,  Humanistes,  15.70 history of Europe,  Humanismus,  Religiöse Toleranz,  Verdraagzaamheid,  Humanisme (cultuurgeschiedenis),  Latin Christian literature,  Religious aspects

Places: Europe