__________________________________________________
Call for Papers "Constructing Tradition: Means and Myths of Transmission in Western Esotericism" Inaugural Conference European Society for the Study of Western Esotericism (ESSWE) University of Tübingen Tübingen (Germany) 20-22 July 2007 __________________________________________________ Many forms of early modern and modern esoteric knowledge claim to represent or restore an ancient, primordial or lost wisdom tradition as a "secret doctrine". The conceptualisation and realisation of such claims places a major emphasis on ideas of tradition and its transmission, either through oral traditions or the discovery and dissemination of sacred and mythic books. The questions of heritage and tradition, of origin and genealogy, are crucial to the foundation of any esoteric knowledge, whether in alchemy, astrology, magic, Kabbalah or Theosophy. Such knowledge legitimates itself through its origins, its ancestry and its transmission and may even seek to invent and construct its own tradition. It is this aspect of esoteric discourse that the inaugural conference of the European Society for the Study of Western Eso-tericism (ESSWE) intends to engage. The title, Means and Myths of Transmission, refers to the more technical, material aspect of tradition, on the one hand, and to its mythical or philosophical aspects, on the other. Against this background, the conference will bring together various methodological approaches and perspectives that compare the traditions of esoteric knowledge with corresponding concepts and practices in religion, literature or science. This will offer fruitful perspectives in the analysis of Western esotericism and its complex role between various cultures of knowledge. Theory, myth and history may serve to illustrate the different accesses to this topic. The constitution and construction of esoteric knowledge and its transmission may be examined as theoretical concepts or as myths within the literature of the tradition itself, or in the actual historical practice of how esoteric groups bequeath their knowledge to posterity. Accordingly, one can distinguish a) theoretical concepts, b) myths, and c) the historical practices, strategies and procedures of transmission. 1. Theoretical and interpretational frameworks (concepts and ideas of tradition) The many varied concepts of tradition in modern esotericism imply a theory of esoteric communication and information, involving the construction and conception of genealogies and the transmission of such primordial and secret knowledge. These theories may be investigated from various points of view (which may find their place also within non-esoteric concepts of knowledge), through the philosophy and/or theology of history, but also through media theory and information theory. Consequently, the following aspects may be taken into consideration: - Philosophy of History - Concepts of tradition and transmission - Theology of History - Soteriological and messianic expectations of restoration (hidden or lost traditions) - Media-concepts - Oral transmission and communication - Literary transmission and communication - Imagery and symbolism - Visual communication and "iconic action" 2. Mythical and literary approaches (myths and imagined tradition) A second field may be distinguished by mythical and literary, i.e. less conceptual, much more imaginative framings of tradition and transmission in Western esoteri-cism. Eventually quite distinct from actual historical reality, transmission can be the object of mythical construction as well as literary narration. Moreover: sometimes esoteric models of transmission might be viewed as generators of literary and mythical narration. The following aspects may be considered: - Mythical agents and bearers of esoteric tradition (Abraham, Adam, Moses, Zoroaster, Hermes Trismegistus) - Literary narratives of esoteric tradition and transmission - The rhetorical and poetical functionality of esoteric tradition and transmission - Myths of Origin, Genealogy or Transmission (written or oral) 3. Historical approaches (actual practices and procedures of transmission) The actual historical practice of transmission can widely differ from the theoretical construction and the imaginative plane of mythical invention. Sociology, communication and media studies, history, and related disciplines have developed instruments of analysis that are fruitful in exploring practices of transmission. For understanding processes of group formation, projects in translation and criticism or the function of oral, literary and visual traditions, the following aspects seem worth considering: - Sociology: groups, circles, (secret) societies - Politics: religious and confessional strategies - Doctrine: master-disciple relationships vs. direct inspiration - Media: oral, literary, image, symbolism - Philology: projects in translation, criticism, editions - Library and museum: books, collections Participants may choose to present a paper within one or other of these three fields of research, but a combined approach is perfectly welcome. In addition to the thematic focus outlined in this Call for Papers, proposals that address other relevant issues of Western Esotericism are also welcome and will be considered seriously. Furthermore, graduate students are strongly encouraged to submit proposals in which they introduce their research projects. A forum for discussing dissertation projects will be part of the conference. Organisational Matters - Conference Languages: English and German - Deadline for abstracts: 31st of December 2006 - Length of abstracts: approximately 300 words Contact: Prof. Dr. Andreas Kilcher Universität Tübingen Deutsches Seminar Wilhelmstr. 50 72074 Tübingen Germany E-Mail: [email protected] Web: http://www.esswe.org/agenda_detail.php?agenda_id=6 __________________________________________________ InterPhil List Administration: http://interphil.polylog.org Intercultural Philosophy Calendar: http://cal.polylog.org
