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Occultist identity formations between theosophy and socialism in fin-de-siècle France

Fin-de-siècle occultism is usually regarded within the context of an “occult revival” that implies the modernization of an older esoteric tradition. However, this notion is rooted in esoteric identificatory discourses at the end of the nineteenth century. This article will discuss two major aspects...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Strube, Julian (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: 2017
In: Numen
Year: 2017, Volume: 64, Issue: 5/6, Pages: 568-595
ISSN:1568-5276
DOI:10.15496/publikation-83236
Subjects:
Geschichte 1890-1914
Sozialismus
Esoterik
Theosophie
Okkultismus
Fin de siècle
Frankreich
Online Access:Resolving-System, kostenfrei, Volltext: http://hdl.handle.net/10900/141889
Resolving-System, kostenfrei, Volltext: http://dx.doi.org/10.15496/publikation-83236
Verlag, Volltext: http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/15685276-12341481
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Author Notes:Julian Strube
Description
Summary:Fin-de-siècle occultism is usually regarded within the context of an “occult revival” that implies the modernization of an older esoteric tradition. However, this notion is rooted in esoteric identificatory discourses at the end of the nineteenth century. This article will discuss two major aspects of these discourses. First, French esotericists polemically distanced themselves from the “Eastern” esotericism of the Theosophical Society by constructing an ésotérisme occidental. It will be shown that this separation of “East” and “West” occurred as a reaction to the T.S., and should thus be seen as a “nationalist” response to a global phenomenon. Second, another major aspect of occultist identity formations will be highlighted: socialism. It will be shown that fin-de-siècle occultists were deeply involved with socialist theories in the July Monarchy vein but ambiguously distanced themselves from contemporary “materialist” socialisms. An analysis of this context will further help to understand the construction of an esoteric tradition.
Item Description:DOI funktioniert nicht. - 29.05.2018
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1568-5276
DOI:10.15496/publikation-83236

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