Giordano Bruno

Name: Giordano Bruno
Author: Walter Pater

By Walter Pater

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About This Book

The essay follows a thinker who enters monastic life, discovers ancient philosophy, and develops a daring pantheistic metaphysic identifying the Spirit with the immanent order of nature. It interweaves episodes from his cloistered training and subsequent wanderings with close readings of Plato, Plotinus, and pre-Socratic thinkers, arguing that divine consciousness pervades every point of existence and that true thought participates in creation so that knowing and being coincide. The author emphasizes the psychological and moral consequences of this vision, notably the enlargement of the soul, intellectual freedom, and a revised sense of religious language.

About the Author

Walter Pater

Walter Pater was an English essayist, critic, and novelist, known for his influential works on aesthetics and art criticism. His writing often explored the relationship between art and life, emphasizing the importance of beauty and sensory experience. Pater's notable works include "Marius the Epicurean," a philosophical novel that delves into themes of pleasure and the pursuit of a meaningful existence. He also contributed significantly to literary criticism with essays such as those found in "Appreciations, with an Essay on Style," where he examined the styles of various authors. Pater's ideas played a crucial role in the development of the Aesthetic Movement in the late 19th century.