Une discipline universitaire nouvelle : l’ésotérisme
Presses universitaires de Lyon eBooks 1994 DOI: 10.4000/books.pul.10704 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Citations | 2 |
| Key points | Argues that Modern Western Esotericism can be treated as a distinct form of thought characterized by six components—correspondences, living Nature, imagination and mediations, transmutation, concordance, and transmission—and that this framework allows the field to be studied as a specific discipline without relying on doctrinal tenets. |
Abstract
Universities and research institutions have become increasingly open to exploring areas which up until recent times have been neglected. One of these is Modern (i.e. since the Renaissance) Western Esotericism, which encompasses, on the one hand, « traditionnal » sciences like alchemy, astrology, magic, arithmology, and the other hand a number of currents like Christian Kabbala, neo-alexandrian Hermetism, theosophy, Rosicrucian and some initiatic societies, some Philosophies of Nature like Paracelsism.It seems appropriate to consider MWE as a form of thought identifiable by the presence of six fundamental components distributed in varying proportions. The first four are intrinsic, the last two are secondary but frequently found in conjunction with the others. 1) Correspondences·. macrocosm/microcosm, as well as correspondences between History (and/or Nature) and revealed texts (like the Bible) ; 2) living Nature·. multileveled reality, cosmic soteriology ; 3) imagination and mediations : a creative or visionary imagination enables to reveal the meaning and life of symbols, of intermediary identities, etc. ; 4) transmutation : second birth, redemption of Man and Nature ; 5) the practice of concordance : a research of common denominators among two different traditions or even more ; 6) transmission : emphasis on regularity and authenticity of spiritual or initiatic channels and filiations.Such a methodological approach has the advantage of not being based on doctrinal tenets and to approach the field in a way that makes it likely to be studied as a specific discipline.