An Analysis on Pico Della Mirandola’s Christian Humanism

Abstract

Pico della Mirandola was one of the most important theologians, philosophers, and humanists in the Renaissance. There are always two different ideas when scholars discussed Pico’s thought: Some scholars held that Pico was a symbol of Renaissance humanism, while others held that he was always a pious Christian, trying to find the evidence to verify the Christian truth in various human cultures. By combing and analyzing of the historical background of Pico’s thought, and his teaching son “human dignity”, “ancient theology” and “Christian kabbalah”, this article pointed out that the paradox existing in the mind of Pico was a typical characteristic of Christian humanism. Realizing this now is very important for us to understand humanism, the complexity and contradiction of Renaissance as a transition period.