Book excerpt: These are explored through a reassessment of the role of humanism, with case studies in music (Josquin Desprez), moral philosophy (Valla, Castiglione, Erasmus, More) and political thought (Machiavelli)." "This book is the first in a series of three specifically designed for the Open University course, The Renaissance in Europe: A Cultural Enquiry. The series is designed to appeal both to the general reader and to those studying undergraduate arts courses in the period."--BOOK JACKET.