William W. Quinn, Jr. is an attorney with the firm of Shea and Wilks in Phoenix, Arizona.

"I cannot recall reading as clear a statement of the perennial philosophy, nor one as solidly based on empirical research, as I have read in this book. The topic of 'primordial tradition' or 'perennial philosophy' is important in the area of the history of religions, and there are precious few books that deal with it in a sympathetic and yet critical way. Coomaraswamy is mentioned often and honorably in religious studies literature without telling us much about why. Guénon usually is idolized or vilified, if he is acknowledged at all. Books such as Quinn's, that treat these influential figures honestly and fairly but with an open and critical eye, fill a real need." — James Burnell Robinson, University of Northern Iowa

• Preface Acknowledgments Abbreviations Part I Background and Premises Chapter 1 Introductory Chapter 2 The Tradition Ananda K. CoomaraswamyRené GuénonTradition as the Philosophia PerennisMetaphysics versus Religious Studies and the Social SciencesChapter 3 Hermeneutics of The Tradition Esotericism in World ReligionsHierarchization"Knowing" and "Knowing About"Integrity of Traditions and "Religious Esperanto"Chapter 4 Forums of the Traditional Perspective FranceEnglandNorth AmericaIranOne Universal ForumThe Individuals InfluencedChapter 5 The Complexio Oppositorum of Quantity and Quality The Nature of QuantityThe Nature of QualityInterrelationship of Quantity and QualityQuality and the TraditionNotes to Part I Part II Principles and Parallels Chapter 6 The Philosophia Perennis The Concept of Philosophia Perennis in Modem PhilosophyThe Term Philosophia Perennis in Western PhilosophyThe Meaning of Philosophia Perennis in Modem PhilosophyPhilosophia Perennis: Modem Philosophy and the Traditional PerspectiveChapter 7 Theosophia Section I: Theosophia AntiquaThe ConceptThe TermHistorical Succession of Theosophists and Theosophic ExpressionSection II: Modem TheosophyCoomaraswamy and Modem TheosophyGuénon and Modem TheosophyChapter 8 The First Principles The. Absolute and the OneAeviternityPeriodicityPolarity, Duality, Coincidentia OppositorumCause and EffectGnoseologyNotes to Part IIPart III Traditional Culture Chapter 9 Primitive Traditional Culture Primary ConsiderationsChauvinistic Perspective of Primitive CultureMagnanimous Perspective of Primitive CultureTraditional Perspective of Primitive CultureChapter 10 Developed Traditional Culture Developed MetaphysicsSocial StructureArts and CraftsWork and PlayThe Principle of Fusion in Traditional CultureAnomalous Elements in Traditional CultureChapter 11 Primitive and Developed Traditional Culture Compared Introductory"Degree" of Development and Periodic ManifestationFundamental DissimilaritiesFundamental SimilaritiesMedieval Christendom (1100-1400)Developed MetaphysicsSocial StructureArts and CraftsWork and PlayFusionNotes to Part III PART IV MODERN CULTURE Chapter 12 Introductory Chapter 13 Losses and Gains of the Western Worldview Loss of the Sacred, Gain of the SecularLoss of Value, Gain of the MeanLoss of Art and Vocation, Gain of Reproduction and IndustryLoss of Metaphysics, Gain of MaterialismLoss of Integrity, Gain of DiversityChapter 14 Cultural Effects of Modernity A Montage of Rotten BasesMass NeurosisTerminological and Educational ConfusionSociolatryPollution: Geographic and CulturalChapter 15 The "Solution" to the Vicissitudes of Modernity Technologic Soteriology: The Great ChimeraThe Traditional SolutionPlanetization: Consciousness and CultureA Traditional Planetary Culture: Novus Ordo SeclorumNotes to Part IV Appendix A Tradition: Definitions and Usages Appendix B Culture Appendix C Ontology Appendix D Methodology (or Ethnomethodology) Notes to Appendices Bibliography Index