Agents of Uncertainty: Mysticism, Scepticism, Buddhism, Art and Poetry
Through an analysis of many different examples, Danvers articulates a new way of thinking about mysticism and scepticism, not as opposite poles of the philosophical spectrum, but as two fields of enquiry with overlapping aims and methods. Prompted by a deep sense of wonder at being alive, many mysti...
| Main Author: | |
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| Format: | Electronic Book |
| Language: | English |
| Subito Delivery Service: | Order now. |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
New York
BRILL
2012
|
| In: | Year: 2012 |
| Reviews: | Agents of Uncertainty: Mysticism, Scepticism, Buddhism, Art and Poetry. By John Danvers (2014) (Jasper, David, 1951 -)
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| Edition: | 1st ed. |
| Series/Journal: | Consciousness, Literature and the Arts Ser.
v.31 |
| Further subjects: | B
Uncertainty
B Electronic books |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (Verlag) Volltext (Verlag) Volltext (Verlag) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Parallel Edition: | Erscheint auch als: 9789042035126 |
| Summary: | Through an analysis of many different examples, Danvers articulates a new way of thinking about mysticism and scepticism, not as opposite poles of the philosophical spectrum, but as two fields of enquiry with overlapping aims and methods. Prompted by a deep sense of wonder at being alive, many mystics and sceptics, like the Buddha, practice disciplines of doubt in order to become free of attachment to fixed appearances, essences and viewpoints, and in doing so they find peace and equanimity. They develop ways of living with impermanence and the unexpected by letting go of adherence to dogmatic beliefs and by suspending judgement. In common with many artists and poets they act as agents of uncertainty, actively disturbing the routines and habits of day-to-day thought and behaviour in order to demonstrate how to maintain a sense of balance and spontaneity in the midst of life's difficulties. Topics explored include: being and self as process; mysticism and language; scepticism and dogmatism; Buddhism, interdependence and emptiness; Daoism and impermanence; dialectics of doubt in art and poetry. Written in a lively and accessible style, accompanied by drawings and photographs by the author, this volume is aimed at scholars, artists, teachers, and anyone interested in philosophy, religion, art, poetry and ways of being. Intro -- Agents of uncertainty: mysticism, scepticism, Buddhism, art and poetry -- Contents -- Preface -- A place to start, setting the scene... -- Mysticism, language and experience -- To the reader -- Acknowledgements -- Introduction -- The book as a narrative of open-ended enquiry -- Brief outline -- PART I - mysticism -- Introduction - what is mysticism? -- Being here -- Observation I - mist and clouds -- Martin Heidegger, Thomas Merton and Meister Eckhart -- Thomas Merton, thinking back on a busy day -- Being as process: John Dewey -- Mysticism: "this unravelling inkling" -- Jacob Boehme - the Signatura Rerum and being open to God -- Observation II - between table and stone -- Contemplative prayer - "listening in silence" -- T.S. Eliot, poetry and prayer -- Poetry, listening, praying -- Attending to what is here - Charles Tomlinson -- Nameless, limitless and beyond distinction -- Observation III - under the yew tree -- Saying and unsaying - apophatic and kataphatic traditions -- The "Cloud of Unknowing" - forgetting the self -- The many modes of silence -- Saint Teresa: the absurdity and necessity of writing -- Not knowing what to say -- Another perspective on mysticism and God: Baruch Spinoza -- Observation IV - intermingling -- Thomas Merton and Sufism -- Silhouette: Thomas Traherne -- PART II - mysticism, language and postmodernism -- Introduction -- Don Cupitt - "a mysticism of secondariness" -- Mysticism, Meister Eckhart, Jacques Derrida and différance -- Barthes, silence and the "speakerly church" -- Positive absence -- R.S. Thomas, presence and absence -- Poetry as bone, beyond understanding -- Stepping around the self - Simone Weil -- Observation V - being here -- Silhouette: Martin Buber -- PART III - scepticism -- Introduction - what is scepticism? -- Scepticism and dogmatism -- Sceptical dialectics -- Observation VI - the shower. |
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| Item Description: | Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources |
| ISBN: | 9401207879 |