Education and the Cultivation of the Early Modern Self: Cultura Animi as Self-Care in Juan Luis Vives

AbstractDoes the modern self still need self-care? Pierre Hadot, Michel Foucault and others suggested that self-care mostly disappeared with advent of modernity. How this happened, or whether instead took on new forms, is not well understood. This article examines Renaissance appropriation concept a “culture soul” (cultura animi) as marker for how was adapted to After detailing Cicero used cultura animi metaphor self-care, I study by humanist Juan Luis Vives (1493–1540), who made it into central notion his educational reform. argue that, Vives, does consist in following rules, precepts “technologies self”; philosophical “art living”. Instead, “culture” stands an organic way learning, practice absorbing multifarious experience, especially though historical literature. Accordingly, “self” be cultivated one’s individual ego transcendent soul, but practical judgment. Education, centered cultivation wisdom, essential flourishing community.