Philosophy Between the Lines (inbunden)
Format
Häftad (Paperback / softback)
Språk
Engelska
Antal sidor
471
Utgivningsdatum
2017-02-27
Förlag
The University of Chicago Press
Dimensioner
229 x 152 x 24 mm
Vikt
627 g
ISBN
9780226479170

Philosophy Between the Lines

The Lost History of Esoteric Writing

Häftad,  Engelska, 2017-02-27
424
  • Skickas från oss inom 5-8 vardagar.
  • Fri frakt över 249 kr för privatkunder i Sverige.
Finns även som
Visa alla 1 format & utgåvor
Philosophical esotericism the practice of communicating one's unorthodox thoughts "between the lines" was a common practice until the end of the eighteenth century. The famous Encyclopedie of Diderot, for instance, not only discusses this practice in over twenty different articles, but admits to employing it itself. The history of Western thought contains hundreds of such statements by major philosophers testifying to the use of esoteric writing in their own work or others'. Despite this long and well-documented history, however, esotericism is often dismissed today as a rare occurrence. But by ignoring esotericism, we risk cutting ourselves off from a full understanding of Western philosophical thought. Arthur M. Melzer serves as our deeply knowledgeable guide in this capacious and engaging history of philosophical esotericism. Walking readers through both an ancient (Plato) and a modern (Machiavelli) esoteric work, he explains what esotericism is and is not. It relies not on secret codes, but simply on a more intensive use of familiar rhetorical techniques like metaphor, irony, and insinuation. Melzer explores the various motives that led thinkers in different times and places to engage in this strange practice, while also exploring the motives that lead more recent thinkers not only to dislike and avoid this practice but to deny its very existence. In the book's final section, "A Beginner's Guide to Esoteric Reading," Melzer turns to how we might once again cultivate the long-forgotten art of reading esoteric works. Philosophy Between the Lines is the first comprehensive, book-length study of the history and theoretical basis of philosophical esotericism, and it provides a crucial guide to how many major writings philosophical, but also theological, political, and literary were composed prior to the nineteenth century.
Visa hela texten

Passar bra ihop

  1. Philosophy Between the Lines
  2. +
  3. The Devils

De som köpt den här boken har ofta också köpt The Devils av Joe Abercrombie (häftad).

Köp båda 2 för 643 kr

Kundrecensioner

Har du läst boken? Sätt ditt betyg »

Fler böcker av Arthur M Melzer

Övrig information

Arthur M. Melzer is professor of political science at Michigan State University, where he is also cofounder and codirector of the Symposium on Science, Reason, and Modern Democracy. He is the author of The Natural Goodness of Man.