Ancient philosophy, mystery, and magic : Empedocles and Pythagorean tradition

by: Kingsley, P.

Price: 89,00 EURO

1 copy in stock

Ancient philosophy, mystery, and magic : Empedocles and Pythagorean tradition
Author:Peter Kingsley

Summary:Empedocles played a crucial role in the development of western culture; yet little is known or understood about this man, who lived in Sicily in the fifth century BC. That is mainly because his teaching has been reconstructed by modern scholars first and foremost on the basis of Aristotle's hostile reports producing a picture which is disconnected and lacking in depth. Using material never exploited before, this is the first full-scale study of Empedocles to situate his fragmentary writings in their original context of philosophy as a way of life, of mystery religion and magic, and of the struggle to realize one's own divinity. Apart from providing a firm basis for understanding Empedocles' own teaching, the book presents fresh evidence which proves he was not an isolated figure and reveals new links between his work and ancient Pythagoreanism

Contents:
Map of Sicily and southern Italy
Map of Egypt
I. Philosophy. 1. Back to the Roots. 2. Aither. 3. Aer. 4. The Riddle. 5. The Sun
II. Mystery. 6. An Introduction to Sicily. 7. The Phaedo Myth: The Geography. 8. The Phaedo Myth: The Sources. 9. The Phaedo Myth: The Structure. 10. Plato and Orpheus. 11. The Mixing-Bowl. 12. 'Wise Men and Women'. 13. Central Fire. 14. A History of Errors
III. Magic. 15. The Magus. 16. From Sicily to Egypt. 17. The Hero. 18. Death on Etna. 19. Sandals of Bronze and Thighs of Gold. 20. Pythagoreans and Neopythagoreans. 21. 'Not to Teach but to Heal'. 22. Nestis. 23. 'Conceal My Words in Your Breast'. 24. From Empedocles to the Sufis: 'The Pythagorean Leaven'
App. I. Parmenides and Babylon
App. II. Nergal and Heracles
App. III. Empedocles and the Isma'ilis

ix, 422 pages : maps ; 22 cm.

Ancient philosophy, mystery, and magic : Empedocles and Pythagorean tradition

by: Kingsley, P.

• ISBN-13: 9780198149880 / 978-0-19-814988-0
• ISBN-03: 0198149883 / 0-19-814988-3
• Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1995

Price: 89,00 EURO

1 copy in stock