Esotericism 10109 225472990 2008-07-13T21:45:08Z Discospinster 82432 Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/81.111.125.82|81.111.125.82]] to last version by Neelix (using [[WP:HG|Huggle]]) {{wikt}} {{redirect|Arcane}} {{redirect|Esoteric}} '''Esotericism''' or, more neatly, '''Esoterism''', the holding of esoteric opinions,<ref>Chambers 20thC dictionary, 1972</ref> derives from the Greek ''{{polytonic|ἐσωτερικός}}'' ''(esôterikos)'', a compund of ''{{polytonic|ἔσω}}'' ''(esô)'': "[[wikt:within|within]]", thus "pertaining to the more inward", mystic. Its antonym is [[exoteric]]. '''Esoteric''' knowledge is that which is available only to a narrow circle of "enlightened", "initiated", or specially educated people.<ref>[http://www.webster.com/dictionary/esoteric Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary : esoteric]</ref> Esoteric items may be known as '''esoterica'''.<ref>[http://www.webster.com/dictionary/esoterica Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary : esoterica]</ref> In contrast, [[exotericism|exoteric knowledge]] is knowledge that is well-known or public; or perceived as informally canonic in society at large. In Western, English-speaking societies today, the term does not necessarily refer to "esotericism" in the sense of mystical knowledge or practice but has come informally to mean any perception or knowledge that is difficult to understand or remember, such as [[theoretical physics]], or else that which pertains to the [[minutiae]] of a particular discipline, such as "esoteric" baseball statistics. ==Origins== [[Plato]], in his dialogue ''Alcibíades'' (circa 390 BC), uses the expression ''ta esô'' meaning «normal activities», and in his dialogue ''Theaetetus'' (circa 360 BC) he uses ''ta eksô'' meaning «the outside things». The probable first appearance of the Greek [[adjective]] ''esôterikos'' is in [[Lucian of Samosata]]'s "The Auction of Lives", § 26 (also called "The Auction of the Philosophical Schools"), written around AD 166.<ref>http://paginasesotericas.tripod.com/esoterismo.htm</ref> The term ''esoteric'' first appeared in English in the 1701 ''History of Philosophy'' by [[Thomas Stanley (author)|Thomas Stanley]], in his description of the mystery-school of [[Pythagoras]]; the Pythagoreans were divided into "exoteric", (under training}, and "esoteric" (admitted into the "inner" circle). == Connotations == "Esotericism" sometimes suggests an additional element of initiation. Another possibility is that such knowledge may be kept secret not by the intention of its protectors, but by its very nature&mdash;for example, if it is accessible only to those with the proper intellectual background. ==History== Esotericism is not a single tradition but a vast array of often unrelated figures and movements. The Roman Empire had several [[mystery religions]] which emphasized initiation. Some saw Christianity, with its ritual of baptism, as a mystery religion. The terms "[[Gnosticism]]" and "[[Gnosis]]" refer to a family of religious movements which claimed to possess secret knowledge (gnosis). Another important movement from the ancient world was [[Hermeticism]] or ''Hermetism''. The [[Ismaili]] Muslims also stress a distinction between the inner and the outer. It is believed that spiritual salvation is attained by receiving the 'Nur' (light) through the esoteric, that is, spiritual search for enlightenment. While many esoteric subjects have a history reaching back thousands of years, these have generally not survived as continuous traditions. Rather, they have benefited from various antiquarian revival movements. During the Italian [[Renaissance]], for example, translators such as [[Marsilio Ficino|Ficino]] and [[Giovanni Pico della Mirandola|Pico della Mirandola]] turned their attention to the classical literature of [[neo-Platonism]], and what was thought to be the pre-Mosaic tradition of [[Hermeticism]]. In the 17th century, European esotericism was reformulated as [[Rosicrucianism]], and later entered various strands of [[Freemasonry]]. In the 19th century, a notable French revival in turn gave way to the [[Theosophy]] of [[H. P. Blavatsky]]. In the 20th century, Theosophy was reformulated by [[Annie Besant]], [[C. W. Leadbeater]], [[Alice Bailey]], [[Rudolf Steiner]] and many others. Theosophy is also considered a major influence on the many current varieties of esotericism in [[Metaphysics|metaphysical]] organizations, "''Ascended Master Activities''", and within the [[New Age]] groups. [[Anthroposophy]], a synthesis of [[Western esotericism|Western esoteric]] traditions and [[Theosophy]] founded by [[Rudolf Steiner]] in the early part of the 19th century, stimulated developments in [[Waldorf education|education]], [[biodynamic agriculture|agriculture]], and [[anthroposophic medicine|medicine]].<ref>Robert McDermott, The Essential Steiner, ISBN 0-06-065345-0, pp. 3-11</ref> Yet another notable esoteric strain stems from the teachings of [[G. I. Gurdjieff]] and [[P. D. Ouspensky]]. ==References== {{reflist}} *[[Benjamin Walker]], ''Encyclopedia of Esoteric Man: The Hidden Side of the Human Entity,'' Routledge and Kegan Paul, London, 1977, ISBN 0-7100-8479-X *Benjamin Walker, ''Man and the Beasts Within: The Encyclopedia of the Occult, the Esoteric, and the Supernatural,'' Stein & Day, New York, 1978, ISBN 0-8128-1900-4 *[[Wouter J. Hanegraaff]] (ed.) in collaboration with Antoine Faivre, Roelof van den Broek & Jean-Pierre Brach, ''Dictionary of Gnosis and Western Esotericism'', 2 vols., Brill, Leiden 2005. * ''Aries: Journal for the Study of Western Esotericism'', Brill, Leiden, since 2001. * ''Aries Book Series: Texts and Studies in Western Esotericism'', Brill, Leiden, since 2006. *[[Antoine Faivre]], ''Access to Western Esotericism'', SUNY Press, Albany 1994. *Antoine Faivre, ''Theosophy, Imagination, Tradition: Studies in Western Esotericism'', SUNY Press, Albany 2000. *[[Kocku von Stuckrad]], ''Western Esotericism: A Brief History of Secret Knowledge'', Equinox, London / Oakville 2005. *[[Wouter J. Hanegraaff]], 'The Study of Western Esotericism: New Approaches to Christian and Secular Culture', in: Peter Antes, Armin W. Geertz & Randi R. Warne, ''New Approaches to the Study of Religion, vol. I: Regional, Critical, and Historical Approaches'', Walter de Gruyter, Berlin / New York 2004. ==See also== {{portalpar|1=Spirituality|2=EndlessKnot03d.png}} {{top}} * [[Alchemy]] * [[Anthroposophy]] * [[Archeosophy]] * [[Astrology]] * [[Behmenism]] * [[Clairvoyance]] * [[Esoteric Christianity]] * [[Esoteric cosmology]] * [[Esotericism in Germany and Austria]] * [[Freemasonry]] * [[Gnosticism]] * [[Hermeticism]] * [[Kabbalah]] * [[Karma]] * [[List of Buddhist topics]] * [[List of spirituality-related topics]] * [[List of symbols#Religious, esoteric, metaphysical and mystical symbols|List of religious, esoteric, metaphysical and mystical symbols]] * [[List of Western esoteric topics]] * [[Magic and religion]] {{mid}} * [[Martinism]] * [[Merkabah]] * [[Mysticism]] * [[Neoplatonism]] * [[New Age]] * [[Numerology]] * [[Occult]] * [[Odic force]] * [[Qigong]] * [[Plane (metaphysics)|Planes of existence]] * [[Reincarnation]] * [[Rosicrucianism]] * [[Spiritual evolution]] * [[Spirituality]] * [[Telepathy]] * [[Theosophy]] * [[Western esotericism|Western Esotericism]] * [[Western Esotericism (academia)]] * [[Western mystery tradition]] {{bottom}} ==External links== * [http://www.amsterdamhermetica.com University of Amsterdam Center for Study of Western Esotericism] Research & BA/MA programs in Western esotericism. * [http://www.huss.ex.ac.uk/research/exeseso/ University of Exeter Centre for the Study of Esotericism (EXESESO)] ** [http://www.huss.ex.ac.uk/research/exeseso/staff.htm Exeter Centre for the Study of Esotericism (EXESESO): Staff] ** [http://www.huss.ex.ac.uk/postgrad/ma/esotericism.htm MA in Western Esotericism at the University of Exeter] * [http://www.esswe.org ESSWE] European Society for the Study of Western Esotericism, with many links to associated organizations, libraries, scholars etc. * [http://www.gnosticweb.com/ Gnosticweb] Free courses on esoteric topics such as astral projection and the esoteric path * [http://www.bajoloshielos.cl Revista Bajo los Hielos] {{es icon}} René Guénon, Abellio, Evola, Lubicz, etc. * [http://www.iniciatica.com Libreria Iniciática - Especializada en temática esotérica] {{es icon}}. * [http://virtuescience.com/occult-timeline.html Timeline of Esoteric History] * [http://personal.telefonica.terra.es/web/logiahermes13 Masonic Esotericism] {{es icon}} * [http://www.AmericanGnosticAssociation.org American Gnostic Association] Understanding Esotericism as the root of all religions and systems of spiritual cultivation * [http://museum.mith.ru/ Esoteric Art] - the gallery * [http://www.esoteric-lebanon.com The first Esoteric Center in Lebanon and the Arab World] Teaching the esoteric techniques of self-knowledge... *[http://www.innerquest.org.ph/ Inner Quest] Free education Website {{belief systems}} [[Category:Esotericism| ]] [[af:Esoterie]] [[bar:Esoterik]] [[bg:Езотеризъм]] [[ca:Esoterisme]] [[cs:Esoterismus]] [[da:Esoterisme]] [[de:Esoterik]] [[et:Esoteerika]] [[el:Εσωτερισμός]] [[es:Esoterismo]] [[eo:Esoterismo]] [[fa:علوم خفیه]] [[fr:Ésotérisme]] [[fur:Esoterisim]] [[gd:“Esoterism”]] [[hr:Ezoterija]] [[ia:Esotericismo]] [[it:Esoterismo]] [[hu:Ezoterika]] [[nl:Esoterie]] [[ja:秘教]] [[no:Den esoteriske tradisjon]] [[pl:Ezoteryka]] [[pt:Esoterismo]] [[ro:Ezoterism]] [[ru:Эзотеризм]] [[sq:Ezoterika]] [[simple:Esotericism]] [[sk:Ezoterika]] [[sr:Езотеризам]] [[sh:Ezoterija]] [[fi:Esoteerisuus]] [[sv:Esoterism]] [[tr:Ezoterizm]] [[vec:Exoterismo]] [[fiu-vro:Esoteeriga]]