The transcendental philosophy of Franklin Merrell-Wolff / Ron Leonard.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Leonard, Ron, 1945-

Series:

SUNY series in Western esoteric traditions

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Merrell-Wolff, Franklin.

Mysticism.

Philosophy.

Physical Description:

xiv, 389 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Albany, N.Y. : State University of New York Press, [1999]

Summary:

This book provides a critical exposition of the philosophy of Franklin Merrell-Wolff, a twentieth-century mystic and philosopher--an exceedingly rare and fruitful combination. Wolff's training in philosophy and science convinced him that it was important to ground his thought in immediate awareness to avoid the pitfalls of mere intellectual speculation. As a mystic, he included firsthand accounts of his experiences and transformations, the sort of invaluable primary data that is most often lacking in a mystic's writings.

Ron Leonard discusses Wolff's influences and realizations and uses phenomenological and analytic methods to explore the implications of his work within the contemporary philosophical context. In particular, Leonard focuses on Wolff's two primary claims: (1) that Consciousness, transcending the subject-object structure, is primary, and (2) that there is in mystical experience a means of knowing other than sensation and conception. This book explores the accounts of Wolff's grounding in the immediacy of his Realizations, and the nature and philosophical significance of mysticism for our understanding of knowledge, reality, and ourselves.

Contents:

Chapter 1 A Unique Philosopher 1

Wolff's Philosophical Significance 1

Synopsis 10

Chapter 2 Franklin Wolff: Life and Influences 13

Theosophy 19

Pythagoras 21

Immanuel Kant 26

Samkara 31

Minor Influences 35

Chapter 3 Realization 39

The Nature of Mystical Realization 39

Description and Interpretation 41

I Am Atman 42

I Am Nirvana 45

Substantiality is Inversely Proportional to Ponderability 46

I Am THAT 48

The High Indifference 61

Permanent Result of the Five Realizations 72

Philosophical Implications 73

Chapter 4 Mysticism and Philosophy 77

Mysticism 78

Philosophy 93

Chapter 5 Mystical Language 107

Ineffability 109

Strategies of Expression 120

Symbolic Language 130

Genres of Wolff's Formulation 143

Critical Evaluation 155

Chapter 6 Transcendence of the Self 157

Foundations of Wolff's Philosophy 157

Phenomenology 161

Consciousness 172

Self 178

Subject and Object 190

Chapter 7 Primacy of Consciousness 201

Primordial Consciousness 203

Origin and Nature of the Ego 211

Phenomenology of Mysticism 217

Metaphysical Implications 222

Chapter 8 The Noetic Thesis 233

Mysticism and Noesis 235

Introception 245

Knowledge-through-Identity 253

Kant and Samkara 261

Authority of Realization 274

Chapter 9 Introceptualism 283

Wolff's Philosophical Legacy 283

Oroboros 290.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 349-363) and index.

ISBN:

0791442152

0791442160

OCLC:

40473790