"In Praise of Folly" essayist (7)

I believe the answer is:

erasmus

(Other definitions for erasmus that I've seen before include "Dutch philosopher" , "He praised folly" , "Fifteenth to sixteenth century Dutch humanist, use arms (anag.)" , "Was this Dutch Renaissance man a strange masseur?" , "Desiderius -, fifteenth and sixteenth century Dutch humanist" .)

I've seen this clue in The New York Times.

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