The "man of learning" defended: seventeenth-century biographies of scholars and an early modern ideal of excellence (original) (raw)

This work explores the emergence of the genre of scholarly biographies in the seventeenth century, reflecting contemporary ideals of excellence and the role of scholars within society. It argues that biographies served not only as representations of individual scholars but also as a way to convey the aristocratic virtues associated with learning, significantly shaping the perception of intellectuals in an era of political and social turmoil. Emphasizing the relationship between knowledge, self-control, and community, the paper highlights how the learned world provided an alternative model of social cohesion amidst disintegration of traditional community structures.