Renaissance man

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Renaissance man

philosophical concept

Also known as: Homo universalis, Universal man, Uomo universale

Written and fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Feb 18, 2024 • Article History

Leon Battista Alberti

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Category: History & Society

Also called:: Universal Man

Italian:: Uomo Universale

Related Topics:: humanism; Renaissance

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Renaissance man, an ideal that developed in Renaissance Italy from the notion expressed by one of its most-accomplished representatives, Leon Battista Alberti (1404–72), that “a man can do all things if he will.” The ideal embodied the basic tenets of Renaissance humanism, which considered man the centre of the universe, limitless in his capacities for development, and led to the notion that men should try to embrace all knowledge and develop their own capacities as fully as possible. Thus the gifted men of the Renaissance sought to develop skills in all areas of knowledge, in physical development, in social accomplishments, ...(100 of 155 words)

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