The Varieties of the Mystical: “Mystic” and “Mysticism” in the Western Esotericism of the late XIX – early XX century

Abstract

The article put forward two key points. The first one point out the limitations of the ability to use general categories such as “mysticism” in the study of religion. The second one high-lights the uniqueness of the work of William James to the intellectual history of the twenti-eth century. On the example of western esotericism of the late XIX – early XX centuries the author shows the dynamics of the use of the terms “mystic” and “mysticism”, highlighting two historical periods – “before James” and “after James”. In the works of Eliphas Levi and Papus mysticism is defined as a set of irrational delusions, such vision is consistent with the enlightenment view of mysticism and is a common philosophical trend of the time. Publishing of James’s work changes the situation. Works of Rene Guenon, Aleister Crowley and Peter Ouspensky marked by the James’s vision of mysticism, in fact their works largely based on James. Thus, the author concludes that western esotericism is not a single spiritual tradition but the phenomenon defined by common cultural trends.