Juan Huarte’s Naturalistic Philosophy of Man

Abstract

Those historians of ideas, who see the Renaissance as a radical departure from medieval Christianity and as the first outbreak of modern secular values, are often inclined to question the very existence of a Renaissance of thought in Spain — the home of scholastics, theologians, mystics, counterreformers, and Inquisitors. Most accounts of Spanish sixteenth century thought are indeed restricted to scholastic philosophers and mystic writers, the two groups which fit in better with a stereotyped version of the Counter-reformation. This way of writing history blatantly ignores the complexity of human events. The Renaissance was obviously more entangled in tradition than has been recognized, and Spain paid more tribute to novelty than most people are willing to concede. The first point does not merit much discussion, having been widely proved by eminent scholars. The second claim is still a matter of dispute.