Constancy and Commonwealth : Nero and English political culture c.1580-c.1630
In the mid-sixteenth century early modern authors became interested in the historical works of the Roman writer Tacitus, and in the philosophy of the Roman statesman Seneca. Richard Tuck has termed this movement ânew humanismâ â a cynical and sceptical form of humanism based on the political and philosophical outlook of Tacitus and Seneca - to distinguish it from old humanism which had been largely inspired by the writings of Cicero. In England ânew humanismâ was reflected in historical, philosophical and dramatic works crafted from around 1580 onwards. These works took inspiration from Tacitusâs pessimistic treatment of the psychology of power, and from Senecaâs philosophy of constancy which taught men how to survive in the capricious world of politics. English ânew humanismâ created a rhetoric that was often critical of political life, and that called for men to oppose the political culture associated with the royal court. In existing scholarship this political dimension of ânew humanismâ has been characterised as ârepublicanâ in tone. However, this overstates the radical character of the political thought associated with this interest in Tacitus and Seneca. This thesis reappraises
Goodburn, Celia Elizabeth
Constancy and Commonwealth : Nero and English political culture c.1580-c.1630. In the mid-sixteenth century early modern authors became interested in the historical works of the Roman writer Tacitus, and in the philosophy of the Roman statesman Seneca. Richard Tuck has termed this movement ânew humanismâ â a cynical and sceptical form of humanism based on the political and philosophical outlook of Tacitus and Seneca - to distinguish it from old humanism which had been largely inspired by the writings of Cicero. In England ânew humanismâ was reflected in historical, philosophical and dramatic works crafted from around 1580 onwards. These works took inspiration from Tacitusâs pessimistic treatment of the psychology of power, and from Senecaâs philosophy of constancy which taught men how to survive in the capricious world of politics. English ânew humanismâ created a rhetoric that was often critical of political life, and that called for men to oppose the political culture associated with the royal court. In existing scholarship this political dimension of ânew humanismâ has been characterised as ârepublicanâ in tone. However, this overstates the radical character of the political thought associated with this interest in Tacitus and Seneca. This thesis reappraises
constancy commonwealth english political_culture early_modern author become_interested historical_work roman writer tacitus philosophy roman statesman seneca term movement new humanism sceptical form humanism base political philosophical outlook tacitus seneca distinguish old humanism largely inspired writing cicero england new humanism reflect historical philosophical dramatic work craft around onwards work take inspiration tacitus pessimistic treatment psychology power seneca philosophy constancy teach men survive world politics english new humanism create rhetoric often critical political_life call men oppose political_culture associate royal_court exist_scholarship political_dimension new humanism characterise republican tone however radical character political_thought associate interest tacitus seneca