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The Occult Philosophy in the Elizabethan Age (Routledge Classics)
It is hard to overestimate the importance of the contribution made by Dame Frances Yates to the serious study of esotericism and the occult sciences. To her work can be attributed the contemporary understanding of the occult origins of much of Western scientific thinking, indeed of Western civilization itself. The Occult Philosophy of the Elizabethan Age was her last book,...more
Paperback, 288 pages
Published
July 2nd 2001
by Routledge
(first published 1979)
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In this followup to her paradigm changing, Giordano Bruno and the Hermetic Tradition, Frances Yates explores the influences such disparate themes as the emergence of Christian Cabala, the influence of Cornelius Agrippa's (1486-1535) transvaluation of the Saturnine upon Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528), the complex relationship between the Continental Reformation and the Hermetic revival, and John Dee's (1527-1608) influence on Elizabethan culture and literature. In all areas analyzed, Yates treats th...more
Oscar
rated it
Yates' last book is a great read, touching upon essential points in the philosophy of a great many central figures of the esoteric renaissance. She makes a case for Christian Qabbalah being one of the most important uniting strains of thought in the works of these figures (Giorgi, Pico Della Mirondola, Dee, etc.), and does so convincingly.
At the same time, the works of such authors are linked to the literature and mythology of the Elizabethan age, which adds fascinating parts of art ...more
At the same time, the works of such authors are linked to the literature and mythology of the Elizabethan age, which adds fascinating parts of art ...more
Éste es un libro literalmente seminal que ayudó a ampliar la visión que se tenía de la época isabelina y la interpretación de algunas de las obras literarias más representativas de esa época. A través de su amplia, pero no por ello menos detallista, recreación del ocultismo en la época de Isabel I, Yates nos presenta una época en que la filosofía, las religiones y la política se entrelazaban de manera fascinante, aunque no siempre amistosa. La primera parte del libro es una excelente y erudita i...more
Chris
rated it
I picked this up more for the Elizabethan connection than anything else. I think it would help to have a good background in occult studies, something I do not have. I found her connection of certain Elizbethan occult beliefs to Cabbla intersting. My comments are on the literature connection.
I just have to say - Bassanio as a Jew? Nope, sorry. Don't buy it. I'll grant you, Dr. Yates, you made a good agrument. But no, as much as I love Shakespeare; I don't think Merchant was a l...more
I just have to say - Bassanio as a Jew? Nope, sorry. Don't buy it. I'll grant you, Dr. Yates, you made a good agrument. But no, as much as I love Shakespeare; I don't think Merchant was a l...more
Michael Murray
marked it as to-read
How people used to entertain themselves when they had the Church on their back continually, and no tv.
Nophoto-m-25x33 So if you thought the melancholic is the most boring of the 4 types of personality (other being phlegmatic, sanguinic, choleric) you're wrong.
Melancholic Saturn weathers all obstacles with stamina and memory.
Descartes fought protestants as a soldier 1620., near White Mountain, and had a vision (Angel coming and saying that nature shall be conquered by number.) 1637. he printed Discours sur la method, renouncing occultism.
Melancholic Saturn weathers all obstacles with stamina and memory.
Descartes fought protestants as a soldier 1620., near White Mountain, and had a vision (Angel coming and saying that nature shall be conquered by number.) 1637. he printed Discours sur la method, renouncing occultism.
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Very interesting analysis of John Dee's occultism and its effects on Elizabeth's foreign policy and propaganda. Also includes a concise but informative review of the hermetic and occultist traditions that came before and may have influenced Dee. Yates goes so far in her interpretations that sometimes it reads almost like an umberto eco novel, but that is kind of a good thing.
I wanted to read this book but delayed because it seemed too dry. No. couldn't put it down. The relationships between Alchemy & Shakespeare was the best part of the book.
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