밀턴의 기독교 휴머니즘과 신플라톤주의적 전통

Abstract

This paper identifies John Milton's Christian humanism with the tradition of neoplatonism, which has been developed since Marsilio Ficino. Milton is considered the embodiment of Christian humanism in the Renaissance England. Milton is well known for his effort to prove the divinity of human faculty through classical education. Yet there has not been much written on what specific aspects in Milton Christian elements are harmonized with humanistic elements. Especially, there is very few research on the connection between Milton's Christian humanism and the neoplatonic tradition. The traditional neoplatonic doctrine of salvation is challenged by the protestants in the 16th century. The debate between Desiderius Erasmus and Martin Luther on the idea of free will is an indication of this confrontation. It is undeniable since the Reformation that the general current of Protestantism is unfavorable toward humanism. It seems that the ambiguous and provocative assertion of human dignity or divinity is impossible under the doctrines of Protestantism.Considering that Milton serves as a core member of the protestant government during the Puritan Revolution in England, Milton's humanism should be labelled as "Protestant" or "Puritan" in nature. Technically, his Protestantism should be in conflict with the tradition of Christian humanism, but we rather find the more harmonious fusion of Protestantism and humanism in Milton's works. There exists just a change of religious form, not of humanistic spirit. Despite the Protestant revolution, the tradition of Christian humanism, that is, the neoplatonic spirit of harmony between Christianity and humanism, evolved since Ficino, turns out to be still alive in Milton.(Korea National University of Education)