Esotericism and Philosophy Conference 12-13.6.2025

Esotericism and Philosophy Conference 12-13.6.2025, Tieteiden talo, Helsinki

Tieteiden talo (House of Science and Letters)
Kirkkokatu 6
00170 Helsinki

Verkkosivut: https://blogs.helsinki.fi/esophilosophy2025/

Ohjelma: https://blogs.helsinki.fi/esophilosophy2025/programme/

The aim of this this conference is to bring together philosophers and scholars of esotericism.

Esotericism comprises a vast field of diverse ideas and practices associated with for example mysticism, occultism, secret societies, and New Age. While there are important predecessors (such as Frances Yates´s studies) the multidisciplinary field of research known as the study of esotericism was born only in the early 1990s. Since then, numerous scholars with different backgrounds have done enormous work in pointing out that far from being mere irrelevant “humbug” esotericism has been an integral part of the development of various sciences, political movements, and artistic schools. The study of esotericism has established its own academic publication series, journals, and regular international conferences. Major research gaps are no longer easy to detect.

However, one of such gaps is the relationship between esotericism and academic philosophy, particularly contemporary philosophy. The backgrounds of scholars of esotericism are usually in various human sciences. Philosophical questions related to esotericism are not taken up so often, at least not systematically. Philosophers, on the other hand, are traditionally even less inclined to take esotericism under serious scrutiny. However, the situation appears to be changing slowly, and a small body of philosophical studies of esotericism already exists. To mention some examples, esoteric influences in Hegel (Glenn Alexander Magee), Schelling (Sean McGrath), Bergson (John Ó Maoilearca), and Deleuze (Joshua Ramey) have been systematically discussed in monograph length.