Problem of Disenchantment

Egil Asprem is Associate Professor of History of Religions at the Department of Ethnology, History of Religions, and Gender Studies, Stockholm University, and the author of Arguing with Angels: Enochian Magic and Modern Occulture, also published by SUNY Press.

"Asprem's line of argument is admirable, drawing on profound knowledge of the history of religion and science, demonstrated through numerous case studies. This is a crucial contribution to research into science and religion in the twentieth century, opening up new areas of research into (western) esotericism and the history of science." — Religious Studies Review"Without doubt, the study—almost encyclopedic in scope, and at the same time replete with new insights—provides an extraordinary contribution to the clarification of the intricate interrelation of esotericism and science in the early 20th century." — Reading Religion"This challenging book is a fascinating complexification of the modern era's scientific history." — CHOICE"The Problem of Disenchantment is, in its entirety, extraordinarily well researched, argued, and written—representing at once the most complete and nuanced treatment of the notion of disenchantment within this network of scientific, religious, philosophical, and esoteric discourses and currents." — Nova Religio

• List of Figures Acknowledgments Introduction the Limits of Reason Part 1. From Process to Problem1. From Process to Problem 2. Science as Worldview Part 2. New Natural Theologies3. Brave New World: An Introduction to Part Two 4. Physical Science in a Modern Mode 5. The Meaning of Life: Mechanism and Purpose in the Sciences of Life and Mind 6. Five Schools of Natural Theology: Reconciling Science and Religion Part 3. Laboratories of Enchantment7. Against Agnosticism: Psychical Research and the Naturalisation of the Supernatural 8. Laboratories of Enchantment: Parapsychology in Search of a Paradigm 9. Professionals Out of the Ordinary: How Parapsychology Became a University Discipline Part 4. Esoteric Epistemologies10. Esoteric Epistemologies 11. The Problems of a Gnostic Science: The Case of Theosophy's Occult Chemistry 12. Perceiving Higher Worlds: Two Perspectives Conclusion Implications for the Study of Science, Religion, and Esotericism Bibliography Index of Names Index of Subjects