Perfecting the body, ennobling the senses, and educating the mind: about ideal model of inculturation in early Modern period

In the early Modern period, many utopias and projects emerged in which humanists revisited medieval practices of inculturation. The subject of the study is the European Renaissance ideal of early Modern inculturation. The focus is on the analysis of the humanistic model of inculturation, presented holistically in Baltasar Castiglione's polylogue book "The Courtier". The courtiers are arguing about: the requirement for a courtier to practice the arts and philosophy; the need for equal education for a lady; the goal of inculturating an courtier (a mentor to a ruler); the idea of the identity of the beautiful, the good and the useful; the neoplatonic ascent of the soul from the changing to the unchanging true, from darkness ignorance leads to enlightenment. The research methodology is based on an institutional approach to inculturation; a comparative method and analysis of discourse, which made it possible to compare diverse discourses and points of view of courtiers, which both complement each other and enter into polemics, including appealing to medieval and ancient philosophy. The author's interpretation of the ideal Renaissance model of inculturation is proposed, which combines the Christian-Platonic understanding of virtue, divine love and harmony with the ancient philosophical and civic ideal of kalokagatia and Paideia. The goal of inculturation is virtue, a happy life and the prosperity of the state, which is possible if the courtier devotes himself to management, is perfect and experienced enough to become a mentor to the ruler. The handwritten book gained popularity among the rulers, aristocracy and nobles of Europe before its publication (1528). It laid down the principles of the modern education system, including harmonious comprehensive personal development and equal opportunities, thanks to which the results of the research can be used in the development of modern models of inculturation, based on the humanistic tradition.

Baldassare Castiglione, inculturation, humanism, Platonism, Aristotelianism, mentoring, courtier-philosopher, body, sensation, intellect