Desiderius Erasmus The Praise of Folly :: Desiderius Erasmus Praise of Folly

Desiderius Erasmus The Praise of Folly Originally meant for secluded circulation, the Praise of Folly, by Desiderius Erasmus, scourges the abuses and follies of the various classes of society, especially the church. It is a cold-blooded, deliberate campaign to discredit the church, and its satire and stinging comment on ecclesiastical conditions are not intended as a healing medicine still a deadly poison. The Praise of Folly, by Desiderius Erasmus, takes on a actually diverse form of life during 16th century Europe. In 1509 the author, Desiderius Erasmus, turn his literary talents to the ridicule and denunciation of monastic vice, immorality, and wickedness. He was considered the Prince of Humanists 1 because he was wizard of the most important men in Europe during the period of the Reformation, The historic and cultural references in his book proves that the Praise of Folly could not spend a penny been written during any other time period except sixteenth century Europe. E rasmus is one of the most fascinating and inscrutable characters in history. thither is no doubt that he was a genius, He was also a bon vivant, but his tastes ran toward good conversation and good food rather than fulgent consumption. He whined endlessly about his troubles, and he begged shamelessly for ever more(prenominal) money from his patrons. But he was one of the most far-sighted individuals to walk this planet, 2. in the first place any others, he saw how the corruption and misdeeds of the church would lead to danger, and when Martin Luther hijacked Erasmus crystallise efforts and turned them into outright revolt, Erasmus saw that this split in Christendom would lead to catastrophe a catastrophe that was realized a century later. Erasmus, even from childhood, had a craving to read, study, learn and know. He spent his life as a scholar and writer. He was a man of quick wit and a keen mind. He had struck a raw nerve by writing the Praise of Folly. But it must be noted th at magic spell Erasmus found the wickedness of the priests revulsive, he did not disapprove of papist Catholic doctrine. He praised himself to be a citizen of the world, not attached 2 to a particular country but finding himself at home in European countries where culture and humanism were flourishing. The two societies he claimed to belong to were two the republic of letters and the Christian church. In Roman Catholic doctrine, he wished only for a reformation of priestly morals and conduct, not of Roman theology, and he disapproved of the doctrinal revolution initiated by Luther.