The Myth of Sisyphus: Renaissance Theories of Human PerfectibilityThe myth of Sisyphus symbolizes the idealization of human excellence as a perpetual process of becoming over the impossibility of absolute achievement. In Stoic philosophy, the writing of the Early Church Fathers, and in its allegorical interpretations in medieval and renaissance mythologies, Sisyphus is the archetypal model of human perfectibility. This Sisyphean archetype is a principal theme in renaissance theories of astral magic in the works of Pico, Ficino, Reuchlin, Paracelsus, Agrippa, and Dee. Erasmus, Melanchthon, and Ascham, and in utopian thought from More to Bacon. Sisyphus illuminates the sacred mysteries of life in the works of Philo Judaeus, Plato, Nicholas Cusanus, and Ficino; the spiritual and sensual contraries of love in the dialogues of Leone Ebreo, Bembo, and Bruno; and the tribulations of the unrequited lover in the works of Petrarch, Ronsard, and Sidney. |
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Page 18
... vision of humanity in harmony with the will of the gods . However , in the rarified atmosphere of unknown islands and imagi- nary city - states , he finds that although such a universal ideology illumi- nates the potentialities of his ...
... vision of humanity in harmony with the will of the gods . However , in the rarified atmosphere of unknown islands and imagi- nary city - states , he finds that although such a universal ideology illumi- nates the potentialities of his ...
Page 23
... vision of himself as the embodiment of human excellence , but still inspire his aspirations to reengage his burden . Sisyphus provides a paradigm of " process as ritual " in which each indi- vidual cycle of his reengagement with his ...
... vision of himself as the embodiment of human excellence , but still inspire his aspirations to reengage his burden . Sisyphus provides a paradigm of " process as ritual " in which each indi- vidual cycle of his reengagement with his ...
Page 24
... of discontent to refashion the world in his own image . His iconoclasistic temper imagines society as a mutable process of becoming , and he aspires to assert his own heroic vision of coherence on it 24 THE MYTH OF SISYPHUS.
... of discontent to refashion the world in his own image . His iconoclasistic temper imagines society as a mutable process of becoming , and he aspires to assert his own heroic vision of coherence on it 24 THE MYTH OF SISYPHUS.
Page 25
... vision that witnesses " divine mysteries " and inspires him to master them , he experiences a crucial transformation into a superior individual possessing , rightfully or not , a greater mystical power that is inaccessible to more ...
... vision that witnesses " divine mysteries " and inspires him to master them , he experiences a crucial transformation into a superior individual possessing , rightfully or not , a greater mystical power that is inaccessible to more ...
Page 39
... vision cannot be sustained . Like Sisyphus , the Platonic ( and later Neoplatonic ) aspirant was trapped in ascending and descending epistemo- logical labors in which the quest for the perfection of the mind could be conceived as an ...
... vision cannot be sustained . Like Sisyphus , the Platonic ( and later Neoplatonic ) aspirant was trapped in ascending and descending epistemo- logical labors in which the quest for the perfection of the mind could be conceived as an ...
Contents
27 | |
50 | |
67 | |
86 | |
Sisyphus as Astral Magician | 110 |
Sisyphus as Humanist | 136 |
Sisyphus as Lover | 193 |
Sisyphus as Hero | 313 |
Notes | 427 |
Bibliography | 544 |
Index | 597 |
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The Myth of Sisyphus: Renaissance Theories of Human Perfectibility Elliott M. Simon No preview available - 2007 |
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achieve actual Aeschylus appears archetypal argues ascending aspirations assertion attempt attributes authority beauty become believed beloved body Books Cambridge Chicago Christian created creative cyclical death descending desire divine earthly edited English Erasmus eternal evil excellence existence experience expression faith fall forms frustrated gods grace heart hero heroic human being's human perfectibility idea ideal identified imagination imperfect inspired intellectual interpretation John justice Knight knowledge labor language Laura laws living London lover magic means mind moral mysteries myth myth of Sisyphus nature never Oxford perfectibility perpetual person Petrarch Philip philosophy physical poem poet Poetry Princeton punishment Queene quest rational reason Reformation Renaissance reveal rhetorical rock-burden sensual Sidney Sisyphean Sisyphus social society soul Spenser spiritual Studies summit symbolizes things Thomas thought tion transcendent transformed Translated true truth ultimate University Press Utopia virtue vision whole wisdom York Zeus
Popular passages
Page 316 - Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
Page 316 - Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin : but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
Page 527 - And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil : and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever...
Page 525 - Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Page 525 - Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: (for there is no difference: for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;) being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood...
Page 304 - Nature never set forth the earth in so rich tapestry as divers poets have done, neither with so pleasant rivers, fruitful trees, sweet-smelling flowers, nor whatsoever else may make the too much loved earth more lovely. Her world is brazen, the poets only deliver a golden.
Page 306 - Then, even of fellowship, O Moon! tell me, Is constant love deemed there but want of wit? Are beauties there as proud as here they be? Do they above love to be loved, and yet Those lovers scorn whom that love doth possess ? — Do they call "virtue
Page 95 - And they said, Go to, let us build us a city, and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven ; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.
Page 524 - O Goodness infinite, Goodness immense ! That all this good of evil shall produce, And evil turn to good...