1.How would you characterize the Renaissance period? Why is it referred to as renaissance?

And how would you explain the significance of the term? What does humanism mean? And
why has it been associated with the Renaissance period?

2. What do you think is Rene Descartes’s most important contribution in the field of
philosophy? And why is he considered father of modern philosophy? Compared to other
periods in the history philosophy, what would you regard as the distinctive traits of modern
philosophy?

3. How would you differentiate between rationalism and empiricism? What do think are the
strengths and weaknesses of each? Why? And which of these schools of thought are you
more inclined to accept? Why?

4. Among the rationalist philosophers we discussed in class, which do you think offers the
most coherent philosophy? Why? And which of his ideas would you consider the most
important? Why? How about the empiricist philosophers? Who do you think is most coherent?
Why

Answers;

1. The Renaissance period is more on transitioning from the Middle Ages into the modern
world where they discover a new way of studying life and humans itself, humanism.
Renaissance means ‘REBIRTH’, where the more sensual aspects of life emerged. Rebirth
means the revival or recovery of classical Greek and Roman art. Humanism means the
study of education and the formation of human beings. Humanism is associated with the
Renaissance because it emerged during the Renaissance period when the people
focused on the human aspect.
2. The contribution of the modern philosopher Rene Descartes in Philosophy is his notion of
the foundation of epistemology, ‘I think, therefore I am’. He is regarded as the father of
modern philosophy because he has his way of thinking, he didn’t copy the most prevalent
philosophy of his time, the Aristotelian and the Platonism. Modern philosophy focuses on
the problem of knowledge and they come up with empiricism and rationalism compared to
the traditional philosophers that seek the ultimate cause of reality.
3. Rationalism claims that knowledge can only attain by reason alone while empiricism
believes that knowledge can be attained through our experience.