Introduction
The development of civilization from historical background comes from different directions towards one goal, and that is towards progressing into a society that is respected and properly recognized. In ancient civilizations, authority became an important foundation of social construction. Until the time when power and direction through control from the government was given birth directing people towards what they should do in order to contribute to the development and growth that the government wants to achieve. However, even before the birth of democracy, there were places in Europe that already recognized the need to respect the value of being human.[1]
The small city of Florence, Italy was one that was able to handle different social difficulties even at the earlier times of its point of growth. It could be understood that in the hope of protecting the city’s reputation, there is one thing that the people of Florence highly gave attention to, their liberty. Why is it that the people of Florence Italy gave so much attention to the value of being free? This discussion shall focus on the value of liberty and how the Florentine civic humanism actually identifies well with such value of social recognition.
Understanding Civic Humanism
The recognition of civil development is dependent on the way the value of being human is respected by a particular ruling administration. Before the birth of the Italian renaissance is the more supreme existence of the Roman and the Greek social developments. In history, the civic movements from these two primary nations became the epitome of power and direction. Although they were powerful, they were considered to follow through the goals of the world to develop a more definitive system of governance rather than a recognition of human uniqueness.[2]
Civic humanism, however, takes a different turn. It believes that every person has a gift that needs to be celebrated and used in order to create social satisfaction. Sure, each individual ought to have a contribution to social growth and progress- however, when this is achieved without the existence of satisfaction of each individual, such growth will soon be stagnant pushing the government to force people to work and to give labor that they may or may not be capable of giving.
Civic humanism basically respects uniqueness of each individual and is in opposition to the authoritative direction of the government in terms of pushing people to do more whether or not they like it. The concept of imperialism which made the Romans and the Greeks nationally superior against the countries they have colonized is completely different from civic humanism.[3] These nations, although superior in governance, were not recognized as good social builders apart from the authoritative system they used to force those under them to follow their demands and work for the goals they have in mind.
The Florentine Culture and Liberty
The small yet a well-recognizable city of Florence does so much to reflect the reality behind the values of what civic humanism is all about. The goals of the early government of Florence was to make the most out of its people- to help them celebrate more of their individuality and create a reputation for themselves that they would be satisfied with. As Bruni notes:
Florence has fought a great many wars and has been victorious over some very powerful enemies. It has fought several growing and formidable powers, and by its sound strategy, by its wealth and sheer willpower. Florence has even overcome those enemies to which it was judged to be very inferior and even incapable of resisting under any circumstances (142).
From this passage, it is obvious that Florence Italy has gone through some distinct struggles in history. The way it has overcome these struggles in history has actually created a huge impact on the pride that its people has embraced through time. The wealth and sheer willpower that its people are known for has been established through history’s directives in the way each person is given the chance to give importance to what he can do- and gain respect for such contributions he makes to build the society.[4] The passage continues:
I say therefore that everyone was so amazed by the dimensions of this conflict and by the duration of the struggle that they were wondering how a single city could muster the great number of troops and immense resources, not to mention the vast about of money needed for the war. But this wonder, the great amazement of everyone, lasts only as long as men have not seen this beautiful city nor observed its magnificence (Bruni, 143).
A small city as Florence is may have not seemed capable of defending itself from the enemies; however, because of the satisfaction of the people, they were motivated to pull themselves together and protect the liberty they were experiencing and not let anyone take it away from them. The governance in Florence made it possible for the people to flourish on their own and the people loved such capacity to grow and be at peace with themselves without being forced to do things that they do not want or that they are not capable of. Civic humanism respects the same concept of individuality. Creating an almost equal connection between satisfaction and functionality makes civic humanism effective in empowering people to become more productive and contribute more to the society’s growth.
Why Civic Humanism Highlights Liberty
Because the people of Florence know the value of liberty, they understand the real meaning it has in their lives. This is the very reason why they make extra investment on the way they protect liberty. As it is said in the reading:
We shall see, you say, but, in truth, you have already seen, as you do now and will again in the future, the steadfastness and the fortitude of the Florentines, superior even to that of the Romans, in defending their most beloved liberty; a divine gift as the saying goes, more precious than all the money in the world (Salutati, 7).
True, for the people of Florence, liberty is the very foundation of their individual being and their society. They see it as the very reason behind the growth of their community and their people; and they would not let anything take that away from them. Putting a fight to make sure that the goal of the whole community of remaining free is protected remains to be the continuous goal of the people of Italy down to this day. [5]The people in the city continuous to celebrate having a practically unique culture that is seen through their architecture and city’s rich scenery of exclusive artistic finds. At the same time, the people of this small city remains proud- they may not be superior in all Europe but they do own a particular characterization that is above all the others especially in terms of protecting their freedom in expressing themselves through arts and their city’s unique culture.
Conclusion
In this discussion, it was made certain that civic humanism is an important part of historical social construction. In Europe, one of the small yet proud cities that held their culture high and protected their liberty among anything else was Florence, Italy. In this research, it was made certain that the reason behind such importance given to liberty by the people is that they realized the worth of such concept of social foundation first hand and they did not want anyone or anything to take them away from such experience of celebrating their uniqueness. As it could be seen today, it could be understood and accepted that the struggles of the people of the city to protect the core foundation of the Florentine Civic Humanism could be considered successful. The celebration of the unique cultures of the city is a proof that such goals were protected and is continuously serving as the primary reputation of the city especially in proving that no matter how small the city may be, the goal of its people to remain free and experience the reality of liberty is strong enough to keep the enemies away.
Overall, the celebration of civic humanism could be recognized from the realization of what liberty is all about. Florence Italy’s example is just one among the other small cities around the globe which remained successful in making sure that its core source of success is practically protected from any possible course of being affected by outside forces. Up to this day, liberty remains to be the element determining the power of a society to function well and become productive with satisfaction as the source of their primary motivation to work using their unique gifts, talents and skills as their contribution to their society’s growth and progress.
References:
Lecture 10: The Idea of Liberty. Part II: Negative Concepts of Liberty.
Lecture 9: The Idea of Liberty. Part I.
Lecture 8: Freedom and the State: Civic Humanism in Florence Italy.
Bruni, L. Panegyric to the City of Florence.
Skinner, Q. The Foundations of Modern Political Thought.
Salutati, C. (et al). Images of Quatrocento Florence.
Whitlock, K. The Renaissance in Europe.
[1] Lecture 8: Freedom and the State: Civic Humanism in Florence Italy.
[2] Lecture 8: Freedom and the State: Civic Humanism in Florence Italy.
[3] Skinner, Q. The Foundations of Modern Political Thought.
[4] Lecture 10: The Idea of Liberty. Part II: Negative Concepts of Liberty.
[5] Lecture 10: The Idea of Liberty. Part II: Negative Concepts of Liberty.
