During the Renaissance, many ideas about the nature of men were developed. It was also a time of significant changes in the way people lived. Compared to the early Middle Ages, cities were larger, and crowds were more common, so that people felt farther away from nature. Moreover, philosophers were asking questions such as "what is a good life?" or "what makes humans happy?" A return to nature and to simple pleasures was a popular answer, as it was a reaction against the increasingly "industrial" life of people.
That feeling is still very common today. Most of us live in highly-industrial cities, heavily polluted and far from nature. Capitalism encourages us to consume, which means that people often work long hours in order to afford the things they believe are necessary for modern life. These feelings are similar to the ones people had in the Renaissance. Pastoral life is attractive because it is a life of simplicity. It requires very few possessions, offers leisure time and allows us to connect with nature.
