Knowledge and the Sacred [Paperback]

Seyyed Hossein Nasr (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 3, 1989

This book is the published version of a lecture given in 1981 in the series "Gifford Lectures" at the University of Edinburgh since 1889.

Product Details

• Paperback: 354 pages
• Publisher: State University of New York Press (July 3, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0791401774
• ISBN-13: 978-0791401774
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 4.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #896,400 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Is all knowledge sacred?, October 8, 2005

By 

Platonic Mystic "Plato" (Van Nuys, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Knowledge and the Sacred (Gifford Lectures) (Hardcover)

Have you ever wondered:

1. Why no one ever goes to a philosopher for advice?
2. Why one mother had this to say about her son the philosopher: "He's the kind of doctor who can't help anyone."?

If you're curious about it, simply read the first chapter of this book. Once you have discovered.what we have lost, you will be encouraged to read the rest of the book.

"In the beginning Reality was at once being, knowledge and bliss ..." began the the first sentence of the book. For the purposes of this exceedingly short review, that phrase will be truncated to: "being and knowledge were one", on the theory that once you have those two the third will follow. The important part about all three qualities is that they constituted the sacred. But that was a long time ago in the era of the "primordial religion", long before even the first ancient texts of the Vedic scriptures were written. The wisdom of that religion however persisted in the lineage of Pythagoras -- Socrates -- Plato -- Plotinus, and even survived intact for the few centuries after them.

The author details how Western Civilization gradually lost touch with the wisdom of the ages. In the beginning, all knowledge was sacred, as well as art, music, dancing, and the crafts. The beginning of the decline of philosophy from its pristine wisdom to pure rationalism started with the famous -- or infamous -- enunciation :

"Cogito ergo sum," of Descartes, "I think, therefore I am.", entirely ignoring being. Anyway, modern philosophy was born. After that, we were treated to many "-isms", from nominalism to existentialism. And, of course, Sartre and his book: "Being and Nothingness". That was the final decree. Being and knowledge were officially divorced.

Fortunately however, there has been a rediscovery of the traditional wisdom, the two most notable names in this rediscovery being Guenon and Schuon. This book details that rediscovery and shows how not only is all knowledge sacred but how the arts and sciences are fountains of Grace.

This is not easy reading. However, it will interest and repay the reader with an interest in tradition as defined by Schuon. All of the ills of the modern world, global warming, overpopulation of the globe, nuclear weapons, etc., etc., etc. can be traced to the decline of traditional wisdom.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A stunning tour de force, August 22, 2009

By 

dan noyes (New Mexico) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Knowledge and the Sacred (Paperback)

The book is stunning in the ground it covers. His knowledge of world religion is comprehensive and his appreciation of the world religions and their wisdom traditions is wonderfully explored.It is comprehensive, detailed, analytical and has ample footnotes for further research. His chapter on sacred art titled 'Traditional Art as Fountain of Knowledge and Grace' is must reading for any student/artist/teacher/lover of sacred art because he manages to get to the core overlap of sacred wisdom and art. Parabola reviewed this book as 'magisterial'. It is indeed.'The author is a phenomenon and this book is an event'-Huston Smith

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sublime, June 26, 2007

By 

Mr. D. Heath "kingraam" (glasgow scotland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Knowledge and the Sacred (Paperback)

Good at the beginning then it just builds and builds. A wonderful piece of work, all the more valuable for its uncompromising style