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Desiderius Erasmus
of Rotterdam
Born: October 27 about 1466 Rotterdam, Holland
Died: July 12, 1536 Basel, Switzerland
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Famous For:
Even
though he was an ordained priest, he never assumed priestly
duties. Instead devoted his life to scholarly study and
writing. He was most noted for not taking sides on any issue and
advocating education at an early age. |
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Humanist Idea:
Throughout
his life, Erasmus maintained a life that was independent of country,
academic ties, as well as religious ties. His aim was to have a
freedom of intellect and literary expression. As a result, he as
both admired and feared by both the religious and the reformers of his
day.
He also felt that education should be started
before the age of seven and continued by encouraging a method of scholarship
that was free from medieval traditions which were formal and rigid.
His primary goal in life was in the pursuit of pure
scholarship.
He was against all ignorance and superstition
instead wanting to find the truth with out allegiance to anyone or any
instititution. |
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Noted Sayings:
"It is folly alone that stays
the fugue of Youth and beats off louring Old Age." The
Praise of Folly (1509)
"They may attack me with an army
of six hundred syllogisms; and if I do not recant, they will proclaim me a
heretic." The
Praise of Folly (1509)
"In the country of the blind the
one-eyed man is king."
Adagia (1500)
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