Oration on the Dignity of Man by Giovanni Pico Essay

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In Oration on the Dignity of Man Giovanni Pico, an Italian Renaissance philosopher, shares his perspective on the concept of a man being at the center of all that God has created. This idea has been a common theme in philosophic thought since ancient times, and the passage above demonstrates Pico’s logic as to how it has occurred. From the philosopher’s point of view, God, the mighty architect of all there is, had finished the creation of the cosmos by populating it with all kinds of essences (line 3). However, He wished for there to be someone who could appreciate his work and solved this problem by bringing a man into existence (lines 4-5). Since there was no more space to occupy, God had to put a man at the center of the universe.

By stating that a man was created last and with no other purpose than to be a witness to God’s efforts, Pico implies that the Craftsman has granted a man the power of free choice. None of his properties are fixed, and he can assume the properties of God’s other beings, the ones that he likes best. It means that a man is intended to choose for himself the form and value of his life and, therefore, determine his fate. Under such circumstances, it is nothing less than a man’s duty to choose wisely and not waste his life thinking there is some higher power preventing him from doing or being what he desires (Pico 224). The importance of this idea cannot be overestimated: if one accepts in good faith that he is the master of his destiny, nothing stops him from aiming at achieving great things.

The whole first part of Oration on the Dignity of Man is devoted to the development of this theme. Further on in the text, Pico speaks about the right reason being the primary thing that distinguishes a man from all the other creatures (226). However, this is the highest level one can reach, and to do that, one has to choose to act using this reason. A man has all kinds of ‘seeds’ in him and he only gets to rejoice in the fruits of what he cultivates (Pico 225). If one decides to follow higher ideals, his level rises; if he decides to morally decompose, the level lowers. In that sense, a man can become either like higher beings – that is, angels – or like lower ones – plants or animals – by choosing his way of life.

Pico, being not only a brilliant philosopher, but an exceptional writer knew how to make his texts elegant and compelling. The chosen passage includes a plethora of epithets (“supreme”, “cosmic”, “sacred”, “mysterious”, “heavenly”, “eternal”, “excrementary”, “filthy”), which paints a more vivid picture of what the author describes. For the same purpose, Pico employs metaphors (“adorned with Intelligences”, “quickened with eternal souls”). In addition to that, the author resorts to antonomasia when referring to God – “the Architect”, and “The Craftsman” – to emphasize His power and glory. The rest of the text is as sophisticatedly written: the grammatical structures are complex, and literary tropes and devices are abundant. As a result, Pico’s texts are more enthralling to read than reflections of other philosophers or many other works in general.

In conclusion, the theme that Giovanni Pico raises in Oration on the Dignity of Man is one of great significance. In presenting his view of a man as the center of the universe, the author asserts that one has the freedom of choice in making his life what he wants it to be. Expressed with a particular literary elegance, this idea makes an indelible impression on the reader and leaves them thinking about their perspective on life.

Work Cited

Pico, Giovanni. “Oration on the Dignity of Man.” The Renaissance Philosophy of Man: Selections in Translation, edited by Ernst Cassirer et al., University of Chicago Press, 1948, pp. 215-254.

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