Esotericism and the Academy: Rejected Knowledge in Western Culture

Description

Esotericism and the Academy: Rejected Knowledge in Western Culture by Wouter J. Hanegraaff is a foundational academic work that charts the marginalization of esoteric thought in the development of Western intellectual history. Tracing how currents such as Hermeticism, alchemy, theosophy, and mysticism were excluded from the modern academic canon, Hanegraaff challenges the traditional narrative that portrays rationalism as the sole engine of cultural progress.

Through a detailed analysis of early modern scholarship, Enlightenment philosophy, and the rise of the modern research university, this book reveals how the so-called rejected knowledge ? was not merely forgotten but actively dismissed and pathologized. For those interested in the serious study of Western esotericism, this text is a cornerstone, clarifying the epistemological boundaries that shaped the modern academy and offering a compelling argument for a more inclusive history of ideas.

Author Wouter J. Hanegraaff Author Info Wouter J. Hanegraaff is one of the leading contemporary scholars of Western esotericism and Professor of History of Hermetic Philosophy at the University of Amsterdam.

He has been instrumental in establishing esotericism as a legitimate academic field of study, advocating for a rigorous, historically grounded approach to subjects long dismissed as fringe or irrational. His work emphasizes the importance of contextualizing esoteric traditions within broader intellectual and cultural developments. Hanegraaff s publications, including Esotericism and the Academy and New Age Religion and Western Culture, are widely respected for their clarity, depth, and scholarly integrity, making him a central figure in the field s academic recognition.

ISBN-13 978-1107680975 Publisher Cambridge University Press Publication Date March 6, 2014 Edition Reprint Binding Paperback Condition Used – Very Good Page Count 480 Pages