The Greeks and the Irrational: Madmen and Shamans (Pre Read)

In 1936, E.R. Dodds became Regius Professor of Greek at the University of Oxford. It was not a popular appointment – he was chosen over two prominent Oxford dons. His lack of service in the First World War and his support for Irish republicanism and socialism in addition to his scholarship on the non-standard field of Neoplatonism, also did not make him initially popular with colleagues. Dodds had a lifelong interest in mysticism and psychic research, being a member of the council of the Society for Psychical Research from 1927 and its president from 1961 to 1963. (Wikipedia)
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Please read chapter III (The Blessings of Madness) and Chapter V (The Greek Shamans and the Origins of Puritanism) from Dodd's book in advance of the meeting.
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This group examines the history of Metaphysics by looking primarily at European thinkers in chronological order. Great effort is made to include lesser known thinkers whose thought has historical significance. We will occasionally examine non-European metaphysics too to provide context and comparison.

After concluding our historical overview of Western Metaphysics, we focus on oral and pre-Modern societies.

Our meeting time is: Tuesday 2 pm(Los Angeles)/5 pm (New York)/10 pm (London).

Other meetings in the History of Metaphysics series:

October 4, Fichte
October 18, Schopenhauer
October 11, Hegel
October 24, Why does the Universe exist?
November 1, Aztec Metaphysics