Orpheus and the Roots of Platonism
Algis Uždavinys, London: Matheson Trust, 2011
Description
A book on the religious, mystic origins and substance of philosophy. This is a critical survey of ancient and modern sources and of scholarly works dealing with Orpheus and everything related to this major figure of ancient Greek myth, religion and philosophy. Here poetic madness meets religious initiation and Platonic philosophy. This book contains fascinating insights into the usually downplaid relations between Egyptian initiation, Greek mysteries and Plato’s philosophy and followers, right into Hellenistic Neoplatonic and Hermetic developments.
(Text from the publisher)
Table of contents
Preface ix
- A Model of Unitive Madness 1
- Socratic Madness 5
III. Socrates as Seer and Saviour 9
- Philosophy, Prophecy, Priesthood 17
- Scribal Prophethood 19
- Eastern and Greek Prophethood 21
VII. Inside the Cultic Madness of the Prophets 25
VIII. Egyptian Priesthood 32
- Orpheus as Prophet 37
- Orpheus and the Pythagorean Tradition 41
- Orpheus and Apollo 44
XII. Orphic Revolution 47
XIII. Knowledge into Death 52
XIV. Telestic Restoration 58
- Lyre of Orpheus 61
XVI. Cosmic Unfolding of the One 64
Orpheus and the Roots of Platonism viii
XVII. Recollection and Cyclic Regression 68
XVIII. Orphic and Platonic Forms 72
XIX. Method of Philosophical Catharsis 76
- Deification of the Egyptian Initiate-Philosopher. . . 79
XXI. From Homer to Hermetic Secrecy 84
XXII. Into the Mysteries 89
XXIII. Beyond the Tomb 93
XXIV. Conclusion 97
Link
https://www.themathesontrust.org/new-monograph-orpheus-and-the-roots-of-platonism