In Praise of Folly by Desiderius Erasmus

Description

In Praise of Folly is a book by Desiderius Erasmus, first published in 1511. Written as a satirical encomium, it presents a clever and biting critique of European society, the Church, and intellectual pretensions through the voice of Folly herself—a whimsical, confident, and sharp-tongued allegorical figure. Erasmus composed the work during a visit to the household of his friend Thomas More, and the book is infused with the humanist spirit that marked the intellectual revival of the Renaissance. While humorous and light in tone, it delivers pointed observations about superstition, scholasticism, clerical abuses, and the vanity of worldly pursuits. The work was enormously influential in its time and helped pave the way for later reformist thought, including the Protestant Reformation—though Erasmus remained a Catholic and sought reform within the Church rather than its overthrow. In Praise of Folly endures as a key text of Renaissance humanism, notable for its wit, irony, and fearless examination of sacred and secular institutions. Its enduring appeal lies in its blend of classical learning, moral commentary, and comic invention. This is a 1668 translation by John Wilson.

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