Specifications of Pico Luther

Philosophy

Both Luther and Pico believe that human nature is duplicitous and binary, and that human beings have the ability to choose between the two poles. Those two poles are also framed similarly by Pico and Luther, who claim that a human being is both body or animal as well as spirit or soul. In "Concerning Christian Liberty," Luther claims that human beings have a dual nature, comprised by the body and the soul. In "Oration," Pico states that human beings exist between two worlds, the divine world and the mundane one. The goal of human life is to reach the highest potential of human nature, which is to aspire toward God. Luther and Pico differ regarding their suggested methods by which a human being aspires toward God, but not in a significant way. For Luther, a human being need only have faith in Jesus. Pico believes a human being does need to have faith but mainly the faith in his/her own potential. Therefore, both Pico and Luther share a similar view on human nature and human abilities, but differ slightly with regard to the overall purpose of life.

For both Luther and Pico, human nature is dualistic and therefore human beings are being pulled in two different directions. Both Luther and Pico believe that the base instincts of human beings may be toward carnal pleasures. Carnal pleasures in turn represent evil (for Luther) or irrationality (for Pico). Pico does not frame carnal desires in moral terms, as Luther does. Contrary to Luther, Pico does not mention "evil" in his "Oration," whereas evil is a major issue for Luther. Human beings are pulled in two different directions, and for Luther, those two directions are toward faith and sin. The greatest sin is not having faith. Pico's vision of the dualism of human nature is more between ignorance and enlightenment, or irrationality vs. reason. Thus, the two authors believe human nature has the same binary structure. They simply phrase and frame their belief using different terminology.

Luther and Pico both believe that human nature is generally universal, in that people from different backgrounds have the same nature, tendencies, and desires. Furthermore, Luther and Pico believe that each person has free will. Free will makes it appear that people have different natures. Human nature is also not inherently good or evil, but predisposed toward both. Luther, however, seems to believe that human beings are more easily swayed by the temptations of the flesh than by the pleasures of the spirit. Pico is more optimistic about human nature, and believes that people are inspired by heavenly things and therefore equally as capable of good as evil.

Human reason plays a more important role in Pico's process of exerting free will, but Luther also acknowledges the power and function of reason in encouraging a person to have faith in God. For Luther, the choice to have faith and love God is a reasonable choice. He uses the word "reason" when urging the reader to have faith and serve God in Section 77. Likewise, for Pico, the choice toward higher aspirations is a reasonable one. Pico also believes that reason is related to "intelligence," which is part of the higher human nature. Intelligence is godliness, according to Pico. Yet Pico also claims that ultimately the human being must transcend reason "through dialectic." Reason is the process by which a human being becomes more godlike. "If he cultivates his rational seeds, he will become a heavenly animal." Luther believes there are limitations to human reason, but faith provides the only key to salvation. Therefore, reason is important to both philosophers but more so for Pico. Luther believes that faith is the exercise of the highest in human nature, not reason.

Luther and Pico disagree on the role that faith plays in reaching human potential. For Luther, faith is a cornerstone of human achievement, and the ultimate pathway toward reaching human potential. Luther uses more overtly Christian terminology when referring to faith vs. Pico, for whom faith is expressed mainly as having faith in oneself. For Luther, faith means specifically faith in Christ. Luther does not acknowledge the efficacy of other religious paths in providing faith. However, Pico does. Throughout the "Oration," Pico refers to the religions of the world including those that Luther would have deemed pagan such as the ancient Greek and Persian faiths. Pico also does not favor Christianity over other faiths, and mentions Islam and Judaism as well. By championing the diversity of religions, Pico essentially suggests that the actual type of faith or religion does not matter. All religious paths lead to essentially the same goal, which is fulfilling the human potential. Thus, both Luther and Pico espouse faith as a key to exercising human liberty but they differ in what constitutes faith and what the object of one's faith should be.

Both Martin Luther and Pico stress the importance of freedom, liberty, and free will. These are central issues in their writings, because they are urging their readers to make choices that are rational and which achieve the goal of liberation. Freedom refers to the freedom to choose between right and wrong, good and bad, truth and ignorance. For Luther, freedom is a dreadful thing because most human beings, as the author suggests, are tempted by sin. Freedom leads human beings astray, according to Luther, who wants people to have faith in Jesus. For Pico, freedom is a glorious trait and is precisely the power that can lead a person to achieving the highest in human potential. Luther does agree that freedom is what prompts a person to have faith and accept Jesus, which is why the two authors do ultimately agree.

Human beings have free will, a fundamental feature of humanity, and that is why it is important to actively cultivate goodness. Pico uses analogy of planting seeds, and so does Luther: "He who wishes to have good fruit will begin with the tree, and plant a good one; even so he who wishes to do good works must begin, not by working, but by believing, since it is this which makes the person good," (63). Pico also believes that a human being reaps what he or she sows. The exercise of free will entails planting the most ideal seeds. For Luther, those seeds have only to do with faith. For Pico, the seeds have to do with intellectual advancement.