Re-evaluating Pico

Aristotelianism, Kabbalism, and Platonism in the Philosophy of Giovanni Pico della Mirandola
1. Auflage 2021
ISBN: 978-3-030-59583-8
Verlag: Springer International Publishing

Buch, Englisch, 251 Seiten, Format (B × H): 148 mm x 210 mm, Gewicht: 346 g

Reihe: Critical Political Theory and Radical Practice

This book offers a re-evaluation of Giovanni Pico della Mirandola, the prominent Italian Renaissance philosopher and prince of Concord. It argues that Pico is part of a history of attempted concordance between philosophy and theology, reason and faith. His contribution is a syncretist theological philosophy based on Christianity, Platonism, Aristotelianism and Jewish Kabbalism. After an introduction, Chapter 2 discusses Pico’s career, his power-relations and his work, Chapters 3 and 4 place his three pillars of Platonism, Aristotelianism and Kabbalism in their historical context, examines shared histories, and introduces the scholars around Pico who contributed so much in each of these traditions (introducing, for example, Christian Kabbalism), including exploring Pico's complex relationship with Marsilio Ficino. Chapter 5 examines the problems of concordance within Pico’s cosmology and metaphysics, including the question of God and the role of the Intellect. Chapter 6 describes Pico’s‘exceptionalist’ version of the mystical ascent as an individualized ascetic experience. Pico eschews the contemporary desire to use a renewed christian thinking or christian-classical metaphysics to change the world (towards a Golden Age or a 'second coming') to present a personal path to God, with no return to the world.

Zielgruppe

Research

Autoren/Hrsg.

Howlett, Sophia

Fachgebiete

• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politikwissenschaft Allgemein Politische Theorie, Politische Philosophie
• Geisteswissenschaften Religionswissenschaft Religionswissenschaft Allgemein Religion & Politik, Religionsfreiheit
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politikwissenschaft Allgemein Politische Geschichte
• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Sozialphilosophie, Politische Philosophie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1. Introduction.- 2. Life and Works.- 3. Pico’s Intellectual Context – Aristotle, Plato and Pico’s Syncretism.- 4. The Third Pillar – Pico and Kabbalism.- 5. Pico’s Universe.- 6. The Way Home.- 7. Conclusion.

Über Autor(innen)

Dr Sophia Howlett is President of School for International Training (SIT), USA, and the author of Marsilio Ficino and His World (2016).