About this Event
Join and on Zoom (or in person for a group Zoom viewing) to discuss how Esoteric Realism, with its shift to a deeper, more symbolic view of reality, shaped the Renaissance and left a lasting impact on art, philosophy, and the language of the era.
Abstract:
By the high middle ages, philosophical Nominalism reigned supreme in European intellectual life.
However, the 15th century would see the rise of a revolutionary Realism pioneered by Platonic, Hermetic and Kabbalistic philosophy and spirituality. This Esoteric Realism would have a decisive impact on how symbols, art and language were perceived and employed. Indeed, the larger Renaissance in art and letters also led to a renaissance in magic itself.
This talk will discuss this esoteric dimension of renaissance semiotics, art and language by exploring this shift to radical Realism.
Speaker:
Dr. James Justin Sledge is a distinguished scholar whose work bridges philosophy, religion, and the Western Esoteric Tradition. Raised in a proud working-class family in Mississippi, Dr. Sledge was the first in his family to attend college, earning degrees from Millsaps College, the Universiteit van Amsterdam, and the University of Memphis. He currently serves as a part-time professor of philosophy and religion in the Metro-Detroit area and is a widely respected educator.
Dr. Sledge’s work engages with Religious Studies, specifically in the so-called “Western Esoteric Tradition” or Hermetic Tradition in religious and philosophical thought. In this line of research, he seeks to grasp the philosophical commitments that underpin the alleged workings of magic, esoteric influence, spirit possession, alchemy, etc. This field of inquiry brings him primarily into contact with philosophers and intellectuals, who are regrettably disregarded by the modern philosophic canon.
Event Venue
Online
USD 0.00
