According to Renaissance philosophy, commoners often represent
A.pride.
B.reason.
C.love.
D.appetite.
Answer
The correct option is D. appetite.
Renaissance philosophy accentuated the differences among social classes. The nobility and intellectual elite were perceived as representatives of higher faculties such a reason while commoners or peasants were associated rather more with basic appetites and desires.
This notion comes from such thinkers as Marsilio Ficino who believed that the soul was divided into different parts. Intellectual strived for truth and worked through reason. But there was also an appetitive part associated with bodily urges and unruly passions.
Ficino and the others considered commoners to be more subjected to bodily appetites. They were regarded as less rational and intellectual than nobles. On the other hand, commoners concentrated on an everyday satisfaction of materialistic necessities like food, shelter etc. Their lives were revolving upon physical efforts and body related concerns.
That is why the Renaissance view had commoners as representatives of appetitive part of soul that was meant to fulfill hunger, lust and other animalistic urges. The nobility was given more leisure time to be contemplative and cultivate reason and intellect. This illustrated the higher facilities of the enlightened soul. For instance, common people with appetite and nobles with reason became one basis for upholding social divides.
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