Get ready for your CLEP Humanities exam with our comprehensive quiz. Study with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Prepare effectively for your exam!

Practice this question and more.


According to Renaissance humanism, what was the driving force of human life?

  1. The afterlife

  2. Joy and contentment

  3. Reason

  4. Accumulation of wealth

The correct answer is: Joy and contentment

Renaissance humanism stressed the importance of the individual and the worth of the present life, focusing on human potential and the pursuit of knowledge and beauty. Reason and critical thinking were also important, but they were seen as a means to achieving a happy and fulfilled life, rather than the ultimate goal. The idea of the afterlife was not emphasized in Renaissance humanism, as it was believed that a person's life on Earth should be lived to the fullest. Similarly, while the accumulation of wealth was valued, it was not seen as the driving force of human life. Therefore, the correct answer is B, joy and contentment.