The Formation of Renaissance Platonism and the Idea of Beauty

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The medieval Platonism which is seen typically at the school of Chartre in the twelfth century took a strong interest in physical science as cosmology. But the revival of Plationism by Renaissance humanists since Petrarch in the fourteenth century was developed under the interest in problems on Ciceeronian rhetoric and moral philosophy. And gradually more political became the Platonism in the early fifteenth century which was related to the revival of Greek learning as seen in Bruni and Decembrio educated by Chrysoloras who transltaed Plato's "Respublica" from Greek into Latin. The interest of Marsilio Ficino and his Academia Platonica is characterised as metaphysical. Since Gemistos Plethon the teachings of Zoroaster and of Orphism and Pythagroeans which were called "prisca theologia" were mingled with Platonism.Ficino was much under the influence of Hermetism and Neo-platonism. And Pico della Mirandola had as much high regard for Cabala as for Plato and Aristotle.In this way Renaissance Platonism tended toward syncretism. It was Always accompanied with the esthetic interest throughout such transformation. In fact it gave great influence to literature and beaux arts in the Renaissance. The world aimed by Renessance Platonists was neither longer the "City of God" nor yet the commercial society but just an utopian "Respublica litteraria".