Imagination and Transformation. Components of Esoteric Thinking in Philosophy of Nature
Filozoficzne Aspekty Genezy July 26, 2024 DOI: 10.53763/fag.2024.21.1.235 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that Western esoteric traditions, as characterized by Antoine Faivre, shaped the philosophy of nature through two themes: the topos of imagination and the concept of transmutation. The article analyzes how esoteric thinking about nature influenced natural philosophy, focusing on imagination's role and on how transmutation was understood in philosophical reflection on nature. |
Abstract
The article presents selected aspects of the relationship between the tradition of Western esotericism and the development of the philosophy of nature. Adopting Antoine Faivre's characterization of Western esotericism, it analyzed how the esoteric thinking about nature influenced natural philosophy. The first part of the article focuses on the relationship, distinguished by Faivre, between the topos of imagination and natural philosophy. The second part outlines how transmutation was understood in philosophical reflection on nature.