Who was Socrates? Socrates, one of the most influential figures in Western philosophy, was born in Athens, Greece, in 470 BCE. He lived during a time of great intellectual and cultural flourishing, known as the Golden Age of Athens. Socrates' life and teachings had a profound impact on the development of Greek philosophy, and his influence can still be felt in the fields of ethics, epistemology, and metaphysics. Socrates' early life is shrouded in mystery, as he did not leave any written works of his own. Most of...

Who was Aristotle? The ideas of Plato and Aristotle, two of the most influential philosophers in Western history, have had a profound impact on the development of depth psychology. From Carl Jung to James Hillman, many of the key figures in this field have grappled with the Platonic and Aristotelian legacies, seeking to integrate their insights into a deeper understanding of the human psyche. This essay will explore how the philosophical debates between Plato and Aristotle have shaped the theory and practice of...

1. Who was Ibn 'Arabi? Ibn 'Arabi (1165-1240), the great Andalusian Sufi mystic and philosopher, is widely regarded as one of the most profound and influential figures in Islamic spirituality. Considered by some to be the greatest of all Muslim philosophers, his vast corpus of writings offers an unparalleled exploration of the nature of reality, the human soul, and the path to spiritual realization. At the heart of Ibn 'Arabi's thought is a vision of the unity and interdependence of all existence, a perspective...

Who was Suhrawardi? Shahab al-Din Yahya ibn Habash Suhrawardi (1154-1191), known as Shaikh al-Ishraq or the "Master of Illumination," was a Persian philosopher, mystic, and founder of the illuminationist school of Islamic philosophy. His works, such as Hikmat al-Ishraq (The Philosophy of Illumination) and Hayakil al-Nur (The Temples of Light), offer a unique synthesis of Zoroastrian, Platonic, and Islamic ideas, and present a vision of reality as a hierarchy of lights emanating from the divine source....

Who was Pierre Teilhard de Chardin? Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881-1955), the French Jesuit priest, paleontologist, and philosopher, devoted his life to reconciling the realms of matter and spirit, science and religion. His unique vision sought to bridge the apparent chasm between the tangible world of atoms and molecules and the intangible world of consciousness and divinity. Teilhard's thought, as expressed in his seminal work The Heart of Matter, resonates with the ancient wisdom of Gnosticism, which...

Who was Friedrich Hölderlin? The Course of Life (Lebenslauf) You too wanted more, but love Forces all of us under. Pain’s necessary curve Returns us to our beginnings. Whether up or down, in the holiness of night, Speechless nature determines all the days to come; Yet in the labyrinths of death You can find a straight path. I know this—not once, like mortal instructors Did you heavenly, all-knowing gods Have the foresight to lead me Along a level path. Everything’s a test, say the gods. Having found his strength,...

The Depth Psychology o Kabbalistic Concept of Ein Sof What is Kabbalah? Kabbalah is a mystical tradition within Judaism that seeks to understand the nature of divinity, the structure of the universe, and the purpose of human existence. The term "Kabbalah" comes from the Hebrew root "k-b-l," which means "to receive" or "to accept," referring to the reception of divine wisdom and the acceptance of spiritual practices. Kabbalah emerged in 12th century Provence and Spain, drawing on earlier forms of Jewish mysticism...