Intellectual Takeout’s Post

I'm excited to share that my book on Robert Pollok’s "The Course of Time," a forgotten Scottish literary+religious blockbuster of the nineteenth century, has been published by Routledge. "Robert Pollok's 'The Course of Time' and Literary Theodicy in the Romantic Age: The Rise and Fall of a Christian Epic" is the first comprehensive exploration of the poem in over a century, examining the influences of Romanticism, Calvinism, apocalypticism, Scottish moral philosophy, biblical criticism, and more. The poem provides a fascinating insight into the tensions between religious belief and secularization in the nineteenth century and beyond, as well as the uses (and misuses) of literature as a form of religious apology. You can read snippets of the book here:  https://lnkd.in/eBKcep2a Learn more about Pollok, an agemate of fellow Romantic John Keats, here: https://lnkd.in/em9jD2wt You or your library can purchase the book or e-book here: https://lnkd.in/eVnz8e54

Unleashing the Heroic Character: Exploring Literary Depictions of Satan in Romantic Literature Join us as we delve into the fascinating world of romantic literature and examine the heroic traits of Satan. Discover the captivating portrayal of this character who boldly challenges tyrannical authority. #RomanticLiterature #HeroicCharacter #Satan #LiteraryAnalysis #LiteraryDepictions #AllSoulsProcession #TucsonEvents #CharacterTraits #Romanticism #LiteraryHeroes

“The Pilgrim’s Progress,” written by John Bunyan and published in 1678, is a Christian allegory considered one of the most significant works in English literature. The book is divided into two parts and follows the journey of a protagonist named Christian (in the first part) and later his family (in the second part) as they travel from their hometown, the City of Destruction, to the Celestial City. Check out this article to learn about Bunyan's magnum opus. #ThePilgrimsProgress #JohnBunyan #englishliterature #literature #classicliterature #classicfiction #christianliterature #arthinkalmagazine #arthinkal

"Mankind censure injustice fearing that they may be the victims of it, and not because they shrink from commiting it." . There are certain books that challenges you to go beyond your normal thinking level. This is a flawed masterpiece but is the foundation on which the western philosophy stands, and is the pioneer work of western political thought. The Republic is a collection of 10 books which is in a form of debates among Socrates and various interlocutors like Cephalus, Polemarchus, Thrasymachus, Glaucon etc. The father of philosophy himself never published anything, all we know about him is through Plato. This was one of the first texts to speak on political theories, philosophy, art, poetry, metaphysics, ontology, epistemology, education etc. Plato proposes an utopian state and other things that will govern the citizens and will be driven by justice. Socrates believed that he was the wisest man because he thought that he knew nothing. He questioned everyone and seek answers only to prove them wrong with his power of analogy and then plants the seeds of his idea. The book centralises on the meaning of justice. It is filled with ridiculous theories which are neither practical nor sane. He discusses rational, spirited appetitive parts of the souls and states and how the influence of other over rational parts corrupts the state and individual. Book V for me is the most fatuous thing I have ever read. But after this, it turned highly intellectual. He discusses the simile of realm where he divided the reality into physical realm and intelligent realm. The best part of this book was the allegory of cave which is one of the most profound and enlightening stuff I have ever read. In the last 3 books the discussion goes to types of political system where he called aristocracy as a just system and called out timocracy, oligarchy, democracy and tyranny as the unjust system. His arguments are really good but his thoughts are highly authoritarian. He draws criticism to Homer and other poets and artist for drifting the people away from truth which makes citizens and states unhealthy and calls reasoning as the way to attain objective truth. I think it endured the test of time because it stimulates an unending quest for truth, urging us to reflect on the nature of justice, the structure of society, and the responsibilities of citizenship. This book is, therefore, both a flawed masterpiece and a perpetual source of intellectual provocation, demanding that we engage with it not as passive recipients, but as active participants in the ongoing dialogue of philosophy. #bookreview #politicalphilosophy #Socrates #Plato #Therepublic #Greekphilosphy

"Torn Between Two Worlds is a series of books that critically examine the seemingly irreconcilable differences between science and those concepts that cannot be fully explained or understood, such as faith, religion, and philosophy. Shawn T. Murphy offers a unique perspective on two things that, when all is said and done, might be more interconnected than conventional thinking would lead us to believe. Consisting of three volumes, each book can be read as a standalone, depending on the reader’s preference and/or purpose. However, the author has skillfully structured this body of work the way an experienced debater would line up evidence to support his arguments. Reading all three books in the order in which it is presented gives readers a deeper understanding of the point of view that the author is trying to convey." https://amzn.to/3xUHihJ #Philosophy #Afterlife #Reincarnation #Christianity https://lnkd.in/dg2v_BBg 

I appreciate that a colleague updated my Wikipedia article to include a summary of my biblical interpretation. https://lnkd.in/dQgcx3B

Did you know the month of May has fascinating origins? There are two main theories about its name: 🌸 Named after the Greek Goddess Maia: Maia, the daughter of Atlas and mother of Hermes, was the goddess of spring and growth. In Roman mythology, she was known as Bona Dea, the goddess of fertility. The Latin word "maius," meaning large, reflects her nurturing nature and association with the bountiful growth of spring. 🌸 Latin Poet Ovid's Theory: Ovid believed May was named after "maiores," the Latin word for elders, as it precedes June. June, or "iuniores," means youth, highlighting the transition from elder wisdom to youthful energy. At our translation company, we love uncovering the rich history behind words and names. Which theory rings true to you? Comment below. #May #Etymology #Translations #LanguageHistory

Unity of opposites The unity of opposites is a philosophical concept that suggests the coexistence of contradictory elements within a unified whole. This idea was first proposed by the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus and has been a central principle in dialectical philosophy. It implies that seemingly opposite or conflicting elements are interconnected and interdependent, contributing to the dynamic nature of reality. The concept has been applied not only in philosophy but also in various fields such as literature, music, and screenwriting to explore the dynamic interplay of opposing forces and the tension they create. #Dialectics #Philosophy #Marxism #Engels #Taoism #Heraclitus #Contradiction #Interdependence #Unity #Opposites #Complexity #Harmony #Balance #YinYang #Duality #Nonduality #Transcendence #Reconciliation #Synthesis #ThesisAntithesisSynthesis #ConflictResolution #HistoricalChange #SocialChange #Progress #Transformation #Growth #Evolution #Development #Emergence #Sustainability #Holism #SystemsThinking #Interconnectedness #Relationships #Connections #Oneness #UnityOfOpposites

In the past 150 years, there have been numerous scholarly, “critical” schools with various visions defining an accurate methodology for interpreting Scripture. To cover the most important: historical criticism focused on interpreting Scripture as an artifact of ancient history. Source criticism looked for the sources that are allegedly beneath the texts themselves. Form criticism tried to understand how any given section of Scripture related to universal literary genres. Redaction criticism investigated how the authors and editors of texts seamed together their sources into composite texts. Literary criticism brings ancient texts into conversation with other texts to let their literary features stand out. Social criticism reads what each text implies about the social group from which the text came. If this sounds a bit speculative, confusing, and somewhat wrong-headed to you, you’re not alone!

In a visual culture how we gaze becomes more important. Here's my interview with Aaron Rosen exploring themes from his book 'What Would Jesus See: Ways of Looking at a Disorienting World'.