Description
THE DEMONIC
Book Summary
A profound exploration of the ambivalent and contradictory nature that dwells at the core of reality. The author proposes the concept of "the demonic" as a cultural synthesis that transcends the Lorquian duende and the Goethean daimon, to reveal a universal energy that manifests in the dialectic of opposites. Through a journey spanning from Western philosophy to Eastern thought, this work invites the reader to understand how contradiction and ambiguity are fundamental creative forces of the universe, culture, and the human condition.
What is it about?
The book develops the thesis that "the demonic" is a philosophical and cultural category that embodies the radical ambivalence of the universe. It starts from two iconic figures of European culture: the Spanish duende, as conceptualized by Federico García Lorca as a force of life and death, and the daimon of Goethe’s Faust, which represents the tension between good and evil. However, the author extends this concept beyond the European sphere to show how this duality is universal. The Eastern Tao is analyzed as a pioneering expression of this demonic logic through yin and yang. The work proposes that all of humanity is the stage where this fundamental contradiction of reality manifests, and that in the background of everything beats a daimonia or self-creativity of the universe—diverse and contradictory, yet radically intertwined.
Main themes
- Philosophy of ambivalence and contradiction as creative forces of the universe.
- Comparative analysis of the Lorquian duende and the Goethean daimon as cultural expressions of the demonic.
- Study of the dialectic and the "dualectic" of opposites in the Western philosophical tradition.
- Links between European thought and Eastern philosophy, with special attention to the concept of the Tao.
- Anthropology of ambiguity and the complicity of contraries in human experience.
- Metaphysics of the self-creativity of the universe and its contradictory nature.
Who is it recommended for?
This work is aimed at readers interested in philosophy, cultural anthropology, and literary theory, especially those seeking to understand the deep structures of symbolic thought and ambivalence. It is ideal for scholars of the works of García Lorca and Goethe, as well as those exploring the connections between Western and Eastern thought. It will also be of great value to specialists in metaphysics, ontology, and shamanism who wish to approach contradiction from an integrative perspective.
What this book provides
- An original conceptual synthesis between European and Eastern cultural traditions regarding the notion of ambivalence.
- A reinterpretation of classic literary figures (duende, daimon) from a philosophical and anthropological perspective.
- A theoretical framework for understanding contradiction and ambiguity as ontological principles rather than flaws of thought.
- Keys to understanding "dualectic" as an alternative or complement to the traditional dialectic.
Technical specifications
- Author: Garagalza; Ortiz
- Publisher: Anthropos Editorial
- Language: Spanish
- Topic: Literary essays, Philosophy: metaphysics and ontology, Social and cultural anthropology, Ethnography, Shamanism, Paganism and Druidry
- Collection: Hermeneusis
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: November 2019
- Number of pages: 208
- Weight: 264 g
Editorial review
An erudite and provocative work that challenges the binary categories of conventional thought. Its primary value lies in the ability to articulate, with philosophical rigor and literary sensitivity, a vision of the universe where contradiction is not an obstacle but the engine of creativity. It is especially relevant for readers seeking non-dogmatic approaches in philosophy and anthropology, as well as for those who wish to explore the common roots among different cultural traditions regarding the fundamental ambivalence of existence.