'Lob der Narrheit' Summary

Erasmus's In Praise of Folly is a satirical attack on the folly and superstition of the Catholic Church and the human condition in general. The book is written in the form of a speech by Folly herself, who argues that folly is an essential part of human nature and that it is the source of much of our happiness and creativity. Erasmus uses Folly's speech to attack a wide range of human foibles, including greed, ambition, hypocrisy, and superstition. He also criticizes the Catholic Church for its corruption and its emphasis on dogma over faith. In Praise of Folly was a huge success and was translated into many languages. It was one of the most popular books of the 16th century and helped to spread the ideas of humanism throughout Europe.