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History of the Concept of the Mind, v. 2 - Introduction (view source)

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Introduction:The Heterodox Tradition in Western Philosophy
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[[Image:lighterstill.jpg]][[Image:Historymindv2.jpg|right|frame]]
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*Introduction:The Heterodox Tradition in Western Philosophy
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*by Paul S. McDonald, Lecturer in Philosophy at Murdoch University, Australia.
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*published by Ashgate
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*ISBN  978-0-7546-3991-6
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*Contentst: Introduction: the heterodox tradition in western philosophy; Ideas about human nature in the ancient Near East; The ancient and medieval horizon of the shamanic soul; Secret teachings about the soul in the post-classical world; Byzantine doctrines of mind, soul and spirit; Christian mystical ideas about the soul's ascent; Magical ideas about the soul from Isidore to Goethe; Plurality of dualisms and duality of life; Sectional bibliographies; Indexes.
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*[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=History_of_the_Concept_of_Mind%2C_v.1-Chap.4 History of the Concept of Mind, v. 1, Chap. 4]
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==Highways & Byways==
 
There are two (or three) main highways along which western speculation about the  
 
There are two (or three) main highways along which western speculation about the  
 
nature of the world and the human soul have traveled: the Platonic dual nature  
 
nature of the world and the human soul have traveled: the Platonic dual nature  
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Descartes the cognitive power (vis cognitiva) of the human mind is due to its  
 
Descartes the cognitive power (vis cognitiva) of the human mind is due to its  
 
attainment of a godlike rationality.  
 
attainment of a godlike rationality.  
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==Aristotle & Co.==
 
Aristotle’s concern to account for the conditions a concrete substance must realize  
 
Aristotle’s concern to account for the conditions a concrete substance must realize  
 
in order to have a soul as its form relied on a matter-form model of explanation. He  
 
in order to have a soul as its form relied on a matter-form model of explanation. He  
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Kenelm Digby who thought that some version of atomism was more amenable to  
 
Kenelm Digby who thought that some version of atomism was more amenable to  
 
the new mechanistic theories of matter in motion.  
 
the new mechanistic theories of matter in motion.  
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==Road Less Travelled==
 
But there are other less well-remarked paths, trodden usually by the few or the  
 
But there are other less well-remarked paths, trodden usually by the few or the  
 
chosen alone. These are the distinctive features of heterodox lines of thought about  
 
chosen alone. These are the distinctive features of heterodox lines of thought about  
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persons and events; some of the apocryphal texts of the NT also contributed to this  
 
persons and events; some of the apocryphal texts of the NT also contributed to this  
 
magical repertoire.  
 
magical repertoire.  
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==Christianity's Posture==
 
The Christians writers of the early centuries carried out a continuous diatribe  
 
The Christians writers of the early centuries carried out a continuous diatribe  
 
directed against all magical practices, and routinely issued condemnations and  
 
directed against all magical practices, and routinely issued condemnations and  
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the operations are designed to elicit instead of the powers they invoke. According to  
 
the operations are designed to elicit instead of the powers they invoke. According to  
 
this theoretical approach, the central feature of religion is that it supplicates God or  
 
this theoretical approach, the central feature of religion is that it supplicates God or  
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the gods, and the main feature of magic is that it attempts to coercespiritual beings  
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the gods, and the main feature of magic is that it attempts to coerce spiritual beings  
 
or hidden forces.3  
 
or hidden forces.3  
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==Magic & Science==
 
The history of magic is above all a crossing-point where the exploitation of natural forces  
 
The history of magic is above all a crossing-point where the exploitation of natural forces  
 
and the invocation of demonic powers intersect. One could summarize the history of  
 
and the invocation of demonic powers intersect. One could summarize the history of  
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and impart its authority to it. In other words, human beings may partake of Divine  
 
and impart its authority to it. In other words, human beings may partake of Divine  
 
Revelation through their own efforts.  
 
Revelation through their own efforts.  
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==Giordano Bruno==
 
In their final summary statement about Giordano Bruno, Copenhaver and Schmitt  
 
In their final summary statement about Giordano Bruno, Copenhaver and Schmitt  
 
admirably characterize the central attitude of the magic-inspired heterodox view of  
 
admirably characterize the central attitude of the magic-inspired heterodox view of  
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fragments of a desperate god who destroyed himself at the beginning of time;  
 
fragments of a desperate god who destroyed himself at the beginning of time;  
 
universal history is the shadowy death throes of those fragments.’9
 
universal history is the shadowy death throes of those fragments.’9
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==Summary==
 
The Cartesian-Galilean understanding of the mathematical order of the natural  
 
The Cartesian-Galilean understanding of the mathematical order of the natural  
 
world and the mechanical laws that govern change and motion would definitively  
 
world and the mechanical laws that govern change and motion would definitively  
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realized through cooperative endeavors, pieces of which can become available to  
 
realized through cooperative endeavors, pieces of which can become available to  
 
anyone with the right scientific education. The occult philosophy and its many  
 
anyone with the right scientific education. The occult philosophy and its many  
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heterodox variants are not so much driven underground as channeled into side-  
 
heterodox variants are not so much driven underground as channeled into side-  
 
roads, away from the main highway; dusty roads traveled by amateur alchemists,  
 
roads, away from the main highway; dusty roads traveled by amateur alchemists,  
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in their speculations about the nature,function and structure of the human mind and  
 
in their speculations about the nature,function and structure of the human mind and  
 
soul.  
 
soul.  
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==References==
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#Kieckhefer 1990 pp. 35–7.
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# Conditions of secrecy are emphasized by Stroumsa 1996 pp. 1–7.
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#Kieckhefer rejects this approach for several reasons, 1990 pp. 15–16.
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#Kieckhefer 1992 pp. 16–17; also Jolly 2001 pp. 13–26.
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#Voss 2001 p. 5.
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#Ficino, quoted in Voss 2001 p. 5.
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#Voss 2001 p. 7.
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#Copenhaver & Schmitt 1992 p. 315.
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#Philip Batz quoted in Culianou 1992 p. 56.
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1  Kieckhefer 1990 pp. 35–7.
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[[Category: Philosophy]]
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2  Conditions of secrecy are emphasized by Stroumsa 1996 pp. 1–7.
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[[Category: Excerpts]]
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3  Kieckhefer rejects this approach for several reasons, 1990 pp. 15–16.
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4  Kieckhefer 1992 pp. 16–17; also Jolly 2001 pp. 13–26.
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5 Voss 2001 p. 5.
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6 Ficino, quoted in Voss 2001 p. 5.
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7 Voss 2001 p. 7.
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8 Copenhaver & Schmitt 1992 p. 315.
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9 Philip Batz quoted in Culianou 1992 p. 56.
 
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