CHAPTER I

PHILOSOPHY OF LIFE

Individualistic and anti-philosophic spirit of France—Flourishing of the salons—Reign of money: legitimated in Italy—The Roman programme—French society—Proposed remedies against Christian socialism—Anne of France—School of Cardinal d’Amboise—Principles of sentimental sociology—Social _raison d’être_ of platonism—Its Florentine origin—Development of the doctrine—Intellectual aristocracy—Platonism a fashionable craze—Discussions on the real character of love—Cataneo—Eloquent Bembo—Petrarchism—Elevation of sentiments by platonism—Michelangelo—French opposition to platonism—Triumph of platonism through Italianism and feminism—Anne of France—Margaret of France and her general philosophy. Pages 137-176