“The achievement of this volume is superb. Through a selection of his writings perfectly chosen, it makes manifest to everyone the preeminent place of Eric Voegelin in the intellectual landscape of the twentieth century."—Tilo Schabert, University of Erlangen, author of <i>How World Politics Is Made</i><br /><br />“Embry and Hughes have succeeded in presenting a thoroughly accessible and well-crafted introduction to the thought of Eric Voegelin. Providing philosophical readings of substance with erudite commentary, this volume ranges perspicaciously across the eras and interests of Voegelin’s writings and will open to a new audience the grandeur of one of the most penetrating and relevant minds of the twentieth century. The Eric Voegelin Reader is set to become the essential companion to the study of Voegelin’s work."—James Greenaway, St. Mary’s University, author of <i>The Differentiation of Authority: The Medieval Turn toward Existence</i><br /><br />“Organized with meticulous care and framed with introductions of exceptional clarity, this reader provides the perfect entrÉe into Voegelin’s thought and the rich treasures of his thirty-four-volume Collected Works. The readings capture, in concentrated form, the full scope of Voegelin’s political and philosophical vision, including the surprising turns in his intellectual development that were born of ever-deepening insights into the nature of reality and human history. There is no contemporary point of view that cannot be enriched and challenged by Voegelin’s uniquely profound and original ideas. The Eric Voegelin Reader will greatly enhance the ease and quality of such encounters."—Paul Kidder, Department of Philosophy, Seattle University<br /><br />“Drawing on a broad variety of Voegelin's work—memoirs, interview, lectures, essays, books—the editors present a very intelligent selection of materials that unfolds his main themes in a clear, logical sequence, and this is also greatly aided by their introduction and explanatory comments with reference to each selection. This brilliant collection of Voegelin's most luminous texts offers an excellent one-volume introduction to the full range and scope of a major thinker who might otherwise seem rather overwhelming to someone new to his work."—Eugene Webb, University of Washington, author of <i>In Search of the Triune God: The Christian Paths of East and West</i>
The Eric Voegelin Reader will be welcomed by students of political philosophy, political science, philosophy of history, theology, and other fields, including those who are unfamiliar with Voegelin’s difficult, but exciting and stimulating, thought. The editors have provided a short introduction and situate each selection in the context of Voegelin’s overall work.
- The Eric Voegelin Reader
- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
- INTRODUCTION
- PROLOGUE
- PART ONE
- Intellectual Biography
- I. CW 34 Autobiographical Reflections (1973): Selections
- Chapter 10: American Influence
- Chapter 11: Concerning the Year in France
- Chapter 12: Return to Vienna
- Chapter 13: Anschluss and Emigration
- II. CW 5 The Political Religions (Second edition, 1939): Selection
- Preface
- III. CW 34 Autobiographical Reflections (1973): Selection
- Chapter 22: Why Philosophize? To Recapture Reality!
- PART TWO
- The Philosophical Science of Politics
- I. CW 5 The New Science of Politics (1952): Selections
- Introduction, §§1–2
- Editors’ Summary of Chapter One
- Chapter 2: Representation and Truth, §§1–6, 9
- Chapter 3: The Struggle for Representation in the Roman Empire, §1
- II. CW 11 Necessary Moral Bases for Communication in a Democracy (1956)
- III. CW 11 The Good Society—from Industrial Society in Search of Reason (1963)
- IV. CW 11 World-Empire and the Unity of Mankind (1962)
- PART THREE
- Philosophizing in Modernity
- I. CW 11 In Search of the Ground (1965)
- II. CW 12 On Debate and Existence (1967)
- III. CW 12 Immortality: Experience and Symbol (1967)
- PART FOUR
- Philosophy and the Open Soul: Consciousness, Reason, and Divine Reality
- I. CW 12 Remembrance of Things Past (1978): Excerpt
- II. CW 12 Equivalences of Experience and Symbolization in History (1970)
- III. CW 12 Reason: The Classic Experience (1974)
- IV. CW 12 The Gospel and Culture (1971)
- PART FIVE
- Philosophy of History
- I. CW 14 Israel and Revelation (1956): Selections
- Preface
- Introduction: The Symbolization of Order
- II. CW 15 The World of the Polis (1957): Selection
- Introduction: Mankind and History (excerpts)
- III. CW 17 The Ecumenic Age (1974): Selection
- Introduction (excerpts)
- IV. CW 18 In Search of Order (1987): Selection
- Chapter One: The Beginning of the Beginning
- EPILOGUE
- FURTHER READINGS IN ERIC VOEGELIN
- SUGGESTED READINGS ON ERIC VOEGELIN
- INDEX