The Myth of Sisyphus: Renaissance Theories of Human PerfectibilityThe myth of Sisyphus symbolizes the idealization of human excellence as a perpetual process of becoming over the impossibility of absolute achievement. In Stoic philosophy, the writing of the Early Church Fathers, and in its allegorical interpretations in medieval and renaissance mythologies, Sisyphus is the archetypal model of human perfectibility. This Sisyphean archetype is a principal theme in renaissance theories of astral magic in the works of Pico, Ficino, Reuchlin, Paracelsus, Agrippa, and Dee. Erasmus, Melanchthon, and Ascham, and in utopian thought from More to Bacon. Sisyphus illuminates the sacred mysteries of life in the works of Philo Judaeus, Plato, Nicholas Cusanus, and Ficino; the spiritual and sensual contraries of love in the dialogues of Leone Ebreo, Bembo, and Bruno; and the tribulations of the unrequited lover in the works of Petrarch, Ronsard, and Sidney. |
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Page 14
... never reach the summit of human perfectibility by his own volition for such a state of grace is solely in the domain of God's mysterious will . Although the " Patristic Sisyphus " desires his perfectibil- ity as an ascent to the divine ...
... never reach the summit of human perfectibility by his own volition for such a state of grace is solely in the domain of God's mysterious will . Although the " Patristic Sisyphus " desires his perfectibil- ity as an ascent to the divine ...
Page 26
... as a process of becoming . Sisy- phus can never be disappointed for the idealization of process over achieve- ment inspires and legitimates his quest . 1 Sisyphus : from Myth to Archetype The Myth Of 26 THE MYTH OF SISYPHUS.
... as a process of becoming . Sisy- phus can never be disappointed for the idealization of process over achieve- ment inspires and legitimates his quest . 1 Sisyphus : from Myth to Archetype The Myth Of 26 THE MYTH OF SISYPHUS.
Page 32
... never stops turning . Sisyphus ' rebellion manifested a profound human desire to compete with the gods relying on his own intel- ligence . His triumph over Autolycus and Salmoneus resulted in the social and economic well - being of ...
... never stops turning . Sisyphus ' rebellion manifested a profound human desire to compete with the gods relying on his own intel- ligence . His triumph over Autolycus and Salmoneus resulted in the social and economic well - being of ...
Page 39
... never be achieved . Such transcendence could be achieved only if the upper soul eliminates its ties to the body ; but to escape the body is impossible and indeed undesirable if the aspirant is to maintain his integrity as a human being ...
... never be achieved . Such transcendence could be achieved only if the upper soul eliminates its ties to the body ; but to escape the body is impossible and indeed undesirable if the aspirant is to maintain his integrity as a human being ...
Page 43
... never be totally satisfied . By contrast to Tantalus and his progeny , Ixion , and the Danaids , Sisy- phus ' crime did not involve infanticide , cannibalism , homocide , or usurpa- tion . He neither blasphemed the gods , nor seduced ...
... never be totally satisfied . By contrast to Tantalus and his progeny , Ixion , and the Danaids , Sisy- phus ' crime did not involve infanticide , cannibalism , homocide , or usurpa- tion . He neither blasphemed the gods , nor seduced ...
Contents
27 | |
50 | |
The Patristic Sisyphus | 67 |
Sisyphus in Medieval and Renaissance Mythography | 86 |
Sisyphus as Astral Magician | 110 |
Sisyphus as Humanist | 136 |
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The Myth of Sisyphus: Renaissance Theories of Human Perfectibility Elliott M. Simon No preview available - 2007 |
Common terms and phrases
achieve actual Aeschylus appears archetypal argues ascending aspirations assertion attempt attributes authority beauty become believed beloved body Books Cambridge Chicago Christian created creative cyclical death descending desire divine earthly edited English Erasmus eternal evil excellence existence experience expression faith fall forms frustrated gods grace heart hero heroic human being's human perfectibility idea ideal identified imagination imperfect inspired intellectual interpretation John justice Knight knowledge labor language Laura laws living London lover magic means mind moral mysteries myth myth of Sisyphus nature never Oxford perfectibility perpetual person Petrarch Philip philosophy physical poem poet Poetry Princeton punishment Queene quest rational reason Reformation Renaissance reveal rhetorical rock-burden sensual Sidney Sisyphean Sisyphus social society soul Spenser spiritual Studies summit symbolizes things Thomas thought tion transcendent transformed Translated true truth ultimate University Press Utopia virtue vision whole wisdom York Zeus