15826. PETRARCH AND THE DISTINCTIVE NATURE OF RENAISSANCE HUMANISM. This paper discusses the influence of classical rhetoric and Christian beliefs on Petrarch's thought, as well as his emphasis on the importance of individualism and self-exploration. Petrarch rejected the scholastic idea of 'absolute truth' and claimed that there are limits to knowledge; thus, according to Petrarch, "it is better to will the good than to know the truth." 15 pages; 50 footnotes; 13 bibliographic sources.