l definitions for them continued with the later literary works. During the three centuries of the Renaissance in Western Europe, even though it went through some changes, the concept of self did not lose its original importance. The praise of human mind and knowledge, as well as accent on classical studies, remained consistent even by the end of the era. The difference between the works of early humanists like Petrarca and the later ones: Ficino and Pico; becomes very clear: they all use the same roots of the classical philosophers and take over from them a profound concern with humanity, but they develop a completely new idea of distinctive human position within the system of universe. Furthermore, now his dignity is defined and justified in terms of this position. Through the purification of the soul: obtaining the supreme knowledge, man becomes a central figure in the universal hierarchy. The figure of man becomes equal to God and his authority is almost unquestionable. The idea of self-fashioning had gradually occupied the place of merely spoken at the time of Petrarch concept of sovereign human being. The self-fashioning doctrine came from North, developed by Erasmus and Thomas Moore. It was based on the ability of knowledge to shape the human personality. And thus ability of man to make his own choice was re-established in the society. The enthusiasm in growing importance of the concept of individualism was strengthened with the emergence of civic humanism that brought a concept of man skillful in all the secular professions. Castigliones The Book of the Courtier creates a perfect picture of the Renaissance man of the end of Renaissance era. In his book Castiglione is discussing the issue of the perfect courtier, who has to have all the virtues: kindness, courage, wisdom, knowledge. He is suggesting that knowledge would help someone to attain all those virtues, thus to becomes a skillful spokesman, polemicist, writer and ...
