Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-n9wrp Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-24T12:26:44.487Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Erasmus and the Hermeneutics of Linguistic Praxis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 November 2018

Mary Jane Barnett
Mary Jane Barnett*
Affiliation:
Georgetown University
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

Erasmian hermeneutics are notoriously difficult to describe clearly because Erasmus is always looking in two directions at once — both toward the ideal, perfectly expressive Word and toward the multitude of imperfect, human words caught in the tumult of history and transmission. In the Enchiridion(1503), a relatively early work, he argues that words inevitably fall short of their task of miming the Logos, that the smallness of the manna rained down on theIsraelites in Exodus 16 “signifies the lowliness of speech that conceals immense mysteries in almost crude language.” Erasmus believes in an essential connection of some kind between res and verbum, but it is clear that he holds as well to the Platonic view that this connection is always necessarily inadequate, that there can be an approach but never an arrival at complete meaning through human language.

Type
Studies
Information
Renaissance Quarterly , Volume 49 , Issue 3 , Autumn 1996 , pp. 542 - 572
Copyright
Copyright © Renaissance Society of America 1996

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Augustine, . On Christian Doctrine. De doctrina Christiana. Trans. Shaw, J.F.. In A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church, 2:515-97. Grand Rapids, 1956.Google Scholar
Bainton, Roland. Erasmus of Christendom. New York, 1969.Google Scholar
Bakhtin, M.M. “Discourse in the Novel.” In The Dialogic Imagination, 259–422. Ed. Holquist, Michael. Trans. Emerson, Caryl and Holquist, Michael. Austin, 1981.Google Scholar
Bakhtin, M.M. “The Problem of Speech Genres.” In Speech Genres and Other Late Essays, 60–102. Ed. Emerson, Caryl and Holquist, Michael. Trans. McGee, Vern W.. Austin, 1986.Google Scholar
Bakhtin, M.M. “The Problem of the Text in Linguistics, Philology, and the Human Science: An Experiment in Philosophical Analysis.” In Speech Genres and Other Late Essays, 103-31. Ed. Emerson, Caryl and Holquist, Michael. Trans. McGee, Vern W.. Austin, 1986.Google Scholar
Baldwin, T.W. William Shakespere's Little Latin and Lesse Greeke. 2 vols. Urbana, 1944.Google Scholar
Bataillon, Marcel. “La situation presente du message Erasmien.” In Colloquium Erasmianum, 3–16. Mons, 1968.Google Scholar
Bateman, John J. “From Soul to Soul: Persuasion in Erasmus’ Paraphrases on the New Testament.” Erasmus in English 15 (1987-88): 7–16.Google Scholar
Bentley, Jerry H. “Erasmus’ Annotationes in Novum Testamentum and Textual Criticism of the Gospels.” Archiv für Reformationsgeschichte 67 (1976): 33–53.Google Scholar
Bentley, Jerry H. “Erasmus, Jean Le Clerc, and the Principle of the Harder Reading.” Renaissance Quarterly 31 (1978): 309-21.Google Scholar
Bentley, Jerry H. Humanists and Holy Writ: New Testament Scholarship in the Renaissance. Princeton, 1983.10.1515/9780691187310Google Scholar
Bouyer, L. “Erasmus in Relation to the Medieval Biblical Tradition.” The Cambridge History of the Bible, 2:492–508. London, 1969.10.1017/CHOL9780521042550.011Google Scholar
Boyle, Marjorie O'Rourke. Erasmus on Language and Method in Theology. Toronto, 1977.Google Scholar
Cave, Terence. The Cornucopian Text. New York, 1979.Google Scholar
Chomarat, Jacques. Grammaire et rhetorique chez Erasme. 2 vols. Paris, 1981.Google Scholar
Chomarat, Jacques. “Grammar and Rhetoric in the Paraphrases of the Gospels by Erasmus.” In Erasmus of Rotterdam Society Yearbook One, 30–68. Ann Arbor, 1981.Google Scholar
Cicero, . De oratore. 2 vols. With trans. Sutton, E.W.. Cambridge, MA, 1948.Google Scholar
Coogan, Robert. “The Pharisee against the Hellenist: Edward Lee versus Erasmus.” Renaissance Quarterly 39 (1986): 476–506.Google Scholar
Coogan, Robert. Erasmus, Lee, and the Correction of Foundations. Geneva, 1992.Google Scholar
Davidson, Donald. “The Method of Truth in Metaphysics.” In After Philosophy: End or Transformation, 244-54. Cambridge, MA, 1987.Google Scholar
Erasmus, . Opera Omnia. Ed. Leclercq, J.. 10 vols. Leiden, 1703.06.Google Scholar
Erasmus, . Ratio verae theologiae. In Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus: Ausgewahlte Werke. Ed. Hajo, and Holborn, Annemarie. Munich, 1933.Google Scholar
Erasmus, . Opera omnia Desiderii Erasmi Roterodami. Vols. 2,5, ed. Heinimann, Felix and Kienzle, Emanuel; 4,4, ed. Chomarat, Jacques; and 4,5, ed. Chomarat, Jacques. Amsterdam, 1969.Google Scholar
Erasmus, . The Correspondence of Erasmus: Letters 1 to 141, 1484-1500. Trans. Mynors, R.A.B. and Thomson, D.F.S.. Vol. 1, Collected Works of Erasmus. Toronto, 1974.10.3138/9781442680937Google Scholar
Erasmus, . The Correspondence of Erasmus: Letters 298 to 445, 1514-1516. Trans. Mynors, R.A.B. and Thomson, D.F.S.. Vol. 3, Collected Works of Erasmus. Toronto, 1976.Google Scholar
Erasmus, . Copia: Foundations of the Abundant Style. De duplici copia. Trans. Knott, Betty I.. Vol. 24, Collected Works of Erasmus. Toronto, 1978.Google Scholar
Erasmus, . The Correspondence of Erasmus: Letters 1252-1355, 1522-1523. Trans. Mynors, R.A.B.. Vol. 9, Collected Works of Erasmus. Toronto, 1981.Google Scholar
Erasmus, . Adages (I.i.1 To I.v. 100). Adagia. Trans. Phillips, Margaret Mann. Toronto, 1982.Google Scholar
Erasmus, . Paraphrases on Romans and Galatians. Trans. Payne, John B., Rabil, Albert Jr., and Smith, Warren S.. Vol. 42, Collected Works of Erasmus. Toronto, 1984.10.3138/9781442677708Google Scholar
Erasmus, . The Right Way of Speaking Latin and Greek: a Dialogue. De recta latini graecique sermonis pronuntiatione dialogus. Trans. Pope, Maurice. Vol. 26, Collected Works of Erasmus. Toronto, 1985.Google Scholar
Erasmus, . Paraclesis. Trans. Olin, John C.. In Christian Humanism and the Reformation, ed. Olin, John C.. New York, 1987.Google Scholar
Erasmus, . The Handbook of the Christian Soldier. Enchiridion. Trans. Fantazzi, Charles. Vol. 66, Collected Works of Erasmus, 1–128. Toronto, 1988.Google Scholar
Erasmus, . Paraphrase on John. Trans. Phillips, Jane E.. Vol. 46, Collected Works of Erasmus. Toronto, 1991.Google Scholar
Erasmus, . Adages II.vii.1 To III.iii.100. Adagia. Trans. Mynors, R.A.B.. Vol. 34, Collected Works of Erasmus. Toronto, 1992.Google Scholar
Erasmus, . Poems. Trans. Miller, Clarence H.. Ed. Vredeveld, Harry. Vol. 86, Collected Works of Erasmus. Toronto, 1993.10.3138/9781442678569Google Scholar
Erasmus, . Annotations on Romans. Trans. Payne, John B., Rabil, Albert Jr., Sider, Robert D., and Smith, Warren S. Jr. Ed. Sider, Robert E.. Vol. 56, Collected Works of Erasmus. Toronto, 1994.Google Scholar
Gadamer, Hans-Georg. Truth and Method. Rev. trans. Weinsheimer, Joel and Marshall, Donald G.. New York, 1989.Google Scholar
Grafton, Anthony and Jardine, Lisa. From Humanism to the Humanities. Cambridge, MA, 1986.Google Scholar
Gray, Hanna H. “Renaissance Humanism: The Pursuit of Eloquence.” In Renaissance Essays, 199–216, ed. Kristeller, Paul O. and Werner, Philip P.. New York, 1968.Google Scholar
Hoffmann, Manfred. “Erasmus on Language and Interpretation.” Moreana 27 (1991): 1–20.Google Scholar
Hoffmann, Manfred. Rhetoric and Theology: The Hermeneutic of Erasmus. Toronto, 1994.Google Scholar
Lyell, James P.R. Cardinal Ximenes. London, 1917.Google Scholar
McConica, James. “Erasmus and the Grammar of Consent.” In Scrinium Erasmianum, ed. Coppens, J., 1:78–99. Leiden, 1969.Google Scholar
McConica, James. “The Fate of Erasmian Humanism.” In Universities, Society and the Future, ed. Phillipson, N., 37–61. Edinburgh, 1983.Google Scholar
Onions, C.T. The Dictionary of English Etymology. London, 1966.Google Scholar
Payne, J.B. “Toward the Hermeneutics of Erasmus.” In Scrinium Erasmianum, ed. Coppens, J., 2:76–99. Leiden, 1969.Google Scholar
Payne, John, Rabil, Albert Jr., and Smith, Warren S.. “The Paraphrases of Erasmus: Origin and Character.” In Erasmus, , Paraphrases on Romans and Galatians, xi-xix. Vol. 42, Collected Works of Erasmus. Toronto, 1984.Google Scholar
Peiree, Charles Sanders. Philosophical Writings of Peirce. Ed. Buchler, Justus. New York, 1955.Google Scholar
Phillips, Margaret Mann. The “Adages” of Erasmus: A Study with Translations. Cambridge, 1964.Google Scholar
Post, R.R. The Modem Devotion. Leiden, 1968.Google Scholar
Quintilian, . The Institutio oratoria of Quintilian. With trans. Butler, H.E.. Cambridge, MA, 1953.Google Scholar
Rabil, Albert. Erasmus and the New Testament: The Mind of a Christian Humanist. San Antonio, 1972.Google Scholar
Rummel, Erika. Erasmus’ “Annotations” on the New Testament. Toronto, 1986.Google Scholar
Rummel, Erika. Erasmus and his Catholic Critics. 2 vols. Nieuwkoop, 1989.Google Scholar
Saussure, Ferdinand de. Course in General Linguistics. Trans. Bask, Wade in. Ed. Bally, Charles and Sechehaye, Albert. New York, 1966.Google Scholar
Schwarz, Werner. Principles and Problems of Biblical Translation. Cambridge, 1955.Google Scholar
Sider, Robert D. “‘In Terms Quite Plain and Clear’: The Exposition of Grace in the New Testament Paraphrases of Erasmus.” Erasmus in English 15 (1987-88): 16–25.Google Scholar
Simon, Joan. Education and Society in Tudor England. Cambridge, 1966.Google Scholar
Todd, Margo. “Erasmus and the Elizabethan Arts Course.” In Proceedings of the Patristic, Medieval, and Renaissance Conference, 8:53–61. Villanova, 1983.Google Scholar
Torrance, T.F. “The Hermeneutics of Erasmus.” In Probing the Reformed Tradition: Historical Studies in Honor of Edward A. Dowey, Jr., ed. McKee, E.A. and Armstrong, B.G., 48–76. Louisville, 1989.Google Scholar
Tracy, James. Erasmus: The Growth of a Mind. Geneva, 1972.Google Scholar
Trinkaus, Charles. “Erasmus, Augustine, and the Nominalists.” Archiv für Reformationsgeschichte 67 (1976): 5–32.Google Scholar
Waswo, Richard. Language and Meaning in the Renaissance. Princeton, 1987.Google Scholar
Woodward, William. Desiderius Erasmus Concerning the A im and Method of Education. Cambridge, 1904.Google Scholar