Traditionalism: The Radical Project for Restoring Sacred Order

Description

Traditionalism is a shadowy philosophy that has influenced much of the twentieth century and beyond: from the far-right to the environmental movement, from Sufi shaykhs and their followers to Trump advisor and right-wing provocateur Steve Bannon. It is a worldview that rejects modernity and instead turns to mystical truth and tradition as its guide. Mark Sedgwick, one of the world's leading scholars of Traditionalism, presents a major new analysis, pulling back the curtain on the foundations of Traditionalist philosophy, its major proponents—René Guénon, Julius Evola, and Frithjof Schuon—and their thought. One of Traditionalism's fundamental pillars is perennialism, the idea that beneath all the different forms of religion there lies one single timeless and esoteric tradition. A second is the view that everything is getting worse, rather than better, over time, leading to the Traditionalist critique of modernity. Sedgwick details Traditionalism's unique ideas about self-realization, religion, politics, and many other spheres. Traditionalism provides an expansive guide to this important school of thought—one that is little-known and even less understood—and shows how pervasive these ideas have become. Contents Acknowledgements Introductory 1. Traditionalism and the Traditionalists 2. Historical perennialism Part I: Foundations 3. Traditionalist Perennialism 4. Traditionalist His 5. The Traditionalist Critique of Modernity 6. Traditionalism, Thought, and Society Part II: Core projects 7. Self-realization 8. Religion 9. Politics Part III: Further projects 10. Art 11. Gender 12. Nature 13. Dialogue Part IV: Post-Traditionalism 14. The Radical Right Part V: Concluding 15. Conclusion Select Bibliography of Traditionalist Works Notes Index