Ludwig Klages' 1922 book, On Cosmogonic Eros (Vom kosmogonischen Eros), delves into the realms of mythology, the esotericism of ancient mystery cults, and the science of consciousness to construct a profound metaphysics of life. At its core, Klages presents Eros as an "Eros of distance," from which springs forth the essence of ecstasy and de-selfing. This intriguing concept suggests that experiencing separation and distance can lead to extraordinary states of transcendent bliss and a dissolution of the self. Furthermore, Klages argues that this ecstatic experience serves as the foundation for the emergence of symbolism, the cult of the dead, ancestor worship, as well as the creation of original poetry and art. Klages' work offers a concise and engaging exploration of these key concepts, intertwining mythology, esoteric knowledge, and the study of consciousness to illuminate the enigmatic nature of life and the transformative power of Eros.

Citations are included in the Editor's note, pages 24-25.

This book is a selection of aphorisms and reflections excerpted from the voluminous works of the German philosopher and psychologist, Ludwig Klages. He was a fierce critic of what he saw as the lack of quality in the modern world, which he held to be a product of modern ideas and organised Christianity in our era. For Klages, the world is divided between life-affirming beliefs that venerate nature and those anti-natural forces that promote materialism and rationalism. To overcome these anti-life forces, Klages wished to return European consciousness back to its pagan roots and renew the link between man and sacred nature. He opposed technocratic rationalism, illusions of progress, and democracy, which he believed to be antithetical to true culture. His aphorisms defend paganism and a healthy Eros for a renewed future. “A pagan metaphysical system would not be philosophy as one understands that word today, i.e., the hair-splitting rehashing of such life-alien concepts as would be appropriate to the lecture hall; nor would it be characterized by that sort of factitious profundity that seeks to conceal its utter inability to solve the riddles of thought behind a veil of second-rate poetic fables. Neither should a genuine pagan metaphysics resemble that which passes for science in the modern world… Before we can discover truths that go to the very roots, we must possess a greater fund of inwardness than can be discerned in those thinkers who, for at least the last five hundred years, have expended their energies exclusively within the realm of reason.”—p. 143

This book provides a unique overview of and introduction to the work of the German psychologist and philosopher Ludwig Klages (1872-1956), an astonishing figure in the history of German ideas. Central to intellectual life in turn-of-the-century Munich, he went on to establish a reputation for himself as an original and provocative thinker. Nowadays he is often overlooked, partly because of the absence of an accessible and authoritative introduction to his thought; this volume offers just such a point of entry. With an emphasis on applicability and utility, Paul Bishop reinvigorates the discourse surrounding Klages, providing a neutral and compact account of his intellectual development and his impact on psychology and philosophy. Part 1 offers an overview of Klages’s life, visiting the major stations of his intellectual development. Part 2 examines in turn nine major conceptual ‘tools’ found in Klages’s extensive writings, aiming to clarify Klages’s terminology, to demystify his discourse, and to sift through Klages’s credentials as a psychological thinker. Part 3 consists of extracts from Klages’s writings, thematically oriented; these showcase the aphoristic and lyrical, as well as psychological and philosophical, qualities of Klages’s writing, including his interest in aesthetics. Taken together, all three parts constitute a vitalist ‘toolkit’ — to build a fuller, richer life. Drawing on previous studies of Klages that have only been available in German, Ludwig Klages and the Philosophy of Life provides a non-polemical account of Klages’s life and work, with explanations and commentaries to guide the reader through extracts from his writings. The book accessibly explains the most important ideas and concepts found in Klages’s work, including soul, spirit, character, expression, will, and consciousness, and it reveals Klages to be a serious figure whose thought remains relevant to many disciplines today. It will stimulate interest in his work and create a new readership for his remarkable worldview.

Untitled Document Chaos, Gaia, Eros: A Chaos Pioneer Uncovers the Three Great Streams of History The History of the World According to Chaos Theory In this eclectic and interdisciplinary work, chaos pioneer Ralph Abraham traces the history of consciousness through a rediscovery of the three forces that drive it: chaos, gaia, and eros-the mind, body, and spirit of evolution. With startling originality and clarity of vision, Abraham employs photographs, timelines, charts, and an engaging format to sweep the reader along on this wild ride through math, science, mythology, philosophy, and the whole of history. Sure to fascinate the poet, scientist, philosopher, and historian in all of us, Chaos, Gaia, Eros is a mind-bending masterwork that reunites the chaotic and mythological forces of human history and blows the doors off existing modes of thought. "Chaos, Gaia, Eros deliteralizes history so we see it not only as a sequence of events, but as a flow of ideas and cultural myths... T]his is an important book for understanding the past, living in the present, and shaping the future." -David Fideler, founder of Phanes Press and editor of Alexandra: The Journal of the Western Cosmological Traditions "This extraordinary work is a veritable Rosetta stone, unlocking the past, present and future." -Joan Halifax, author of The Fruitful Darkness. " Ralph Abraham has] his own highly original ideas about the application of chaos theory to changes in history and consciousness, making for a rich and provocative blend" -Riane Eisler, author of The Chalice and the Blade. "Ralph Abraham is the most readable and delightful of mathematical pioneers. He is in the great tradition of Poincar and Whitehead, a true mathematical humanist. Chaos, Gaia, Eros is destined to be a voice shaping the new millennium." -Terence McKenna, author of True Hallucinations, The Invisible Landscape, Archaic Revival and Food of the Gods. -------- Ralph Abraham is a world renowned chaos theorist and professor emeritus of mathematics at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Daily life in ancient Egypt was saturated with eroticism and much influenced by cult and magic as well. Ancient Egyptian religion, with its variety of gods living, feeling, and reacting much like mortals, is a valuable index of human lifestyles of the day. This text addresses selected facets of the erotic concepts and practices of the ancient Egyptians, as recorded in art and literature; it also describes some recent archaeological discoveries.