In the Renaissance, few works will have known the popularity of the Praise of Folly, by Erasmus of Rotterdam (1469-1536), one of the most influential European humanists.

Originally published in 1511, when the press was still in its early stages in Europe, the book should be included in the list of publications that helped instil in many European intellectuals the awareness of the distortion of the Catholic Church in the face of true Christian morality, which boosted the Protestant Reformation.

By attributing the title Encomium Moriae, Erasmus played with the name of his dear friend Thomas More, as if complimenting him. It seems that a more likely title in Latin, the language in which Erasmus wrote and the true lingua franca of European science and culture at least until the middle of the 18th century, would be Laus Stultitiae, which could translate into “Praise of Stupidity”.

In the Praise of Folly, Erasmus criticizes, in a scathing way, in the style of ancient satirical authors like Luciano, in addition to the unruly clergy, the pretentiousness and affected ways of some intellectuals of his time, including those who pretended to be wise men, who «…although not understanding the ancient languages, pretended that they understand them, by looking satisfied, giving signs of approval by shaking their heads or long donkey ears, and saying importantly: Bravo! Very well! Precisely!  

The FMUL Library and IDC collection has an edition of the Praise of Folly of 1777, from Neuchatel, which includes several interesting illustrations.

ERASMUS, Desiderius, 1469-1536

L'eloge de la folie : composé en forme de declamation / par Erasme ; et traduit par M. Gueudeville ; avec les notes de Gerard Listre ; et les belles figures de Holbein. -  Nouv. Ed., rev., augm… - Neuchatel : chez Samuel Fauche, 1777. - [16], 234 p., 2, [5] f. grav. desdobr. : il. ; 21 cm. -  intaglio printing in the text -  5 Prints, fold out.

FML Library-IDC reference: RES. 1821

André Silva 
Library and information Area