„Ego e Philologia Philosophiam feci”. Erazm wobec dziedzictwa kulturowego antyku
'Ego e Philologia Philosophiam feci'. Erasmus of Rotterdam and the Cultural Heritage of Antiquity

Author(s): Justyna Dąbkowska-Kujko
Subject(s): Christian Theology and Religion, Cultural history, Studies of Literature, Polish Literature, Theory of Literature
Published by: Wydawnictwa Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego
Keywords: Erasmus of Rotterdam; Literary imitation; Intertextuality; Humanism; Ancient heritage
Summary/Abstract: The article aims to showcase, using selected works of Erasmus (primarily his 'Lingua'), both the strategies of imitating ancient models and the elements that clearly extended beyond the framework of literary imitation. It discusses how the humanist employed ancient references in composing his own works; how he reinterpreted and semantically transformed them; and, finally, how – by drawing on the legacy of the past – he expanded the conceptual repertoire, constructed new systems of meaning, built associative structures or spirals, and multiplied images that were both aesthetically appealing and intellectually dense, with distinct philosophical implications. The compilatory, collective, and compendial nature of many of Erasmus’ works demonstrates that they gathered and arranged selected material from various authors’ writings. This material was designed as an entirely new whole, inviting reflection on the terms proposed by the author. Erasmus’ writings reveal a flexible approach to source material in terms of language, composition, and meaning. From phrases borrowed from foreign works or distant yet recognizable literary allusions, the humanist constructed the intertextual “speech” of his works. In these, expressions long established as proverbs or exempla – often dominated by colloquial language, allusions, and quotations – broaden the scope of expression and open Erasmus’ distinctive encyclopedism to a dialogue with the vast universe of human thought, emotions, and ingenuity. At the same time, they document the enduring relevance of the ancient cultural heritage within the realm of Christian culture.

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