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Philosophy Between the Lines (Hardcover)
Loot Price: R2,690
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Philosophy Between the Lines (Hardcover)
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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 that of 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 many different times and places to
engage in this strange practice, while also exploring the motives
that led 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.
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