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The Natural Philosophy of Emanuel Swedenborg: A Study in the Conceptual Metaphors of the Mechanistic World-View

AUTHOR Duner, David
PUBLISHER Springer (08/01/2012)
PRODUCT TYPE Hardcover (Hardcover)

Description

Although Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772) is commonly known for his spiritual philosophy, his early career was focused on natural science. During this period, Swedenborg thought the world was like a gigantic machine, following the laws of mechanics and geometry. This volume analyses this mechanistic world-view from the cognitive perspective, by means of a study of the metaphors in Swedenborg's texts. The author argues that these conceptual metaphors are vital skills of the creative mind and scientific thinking, used to create visual analogies and abstract ideas. This means that Swedenborg's mechanistic and geometrical world-view allowed him to perceive the world as mechanical and geometrical. Swedenborg thought "with" books and pens. The reading gave him associations and clues, forced him to interpret, and gave him material for his intellectual development.

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Product Format
Product Details
ISBN-13: 9789400745599
ISBN-10: 9400745591
Binding: Hardback or Cased Book (Sewn)
Content Language: English
More Product Details
Page Count: 476
Carton Quantity: 18
Product Dimensions: 6.10 x 1.30 x 9.20 inches
Weight: 1.80 pound(s)
Country of Origin: NL
Subject Information
BISAC Categories
Reference | General
Reference | History & Surveys - General
Reference | Mind & Body
Dewey Decimal: 501
Descriptions, Reviews, Etc.
jacket back

Although Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772) is commonly known for his spiritual philosophy, his early career was focused on natural science. During this period, Swedenborg thought the world was like a gigantic machine, following the laws of mechanics and geometry. This volume analyses this mechanistic world-view from the cognitive perspective, by means of a study of the metaphors in Swedenborg's texts. The author argues that these conceptual metaphors are vital skills of the creative mind and scientific thinking, used to create visual analogies and abstract ideas. This means that Swedenborg's mechanistic and geometrical world-view allowed him to perceive the world as mechanical and geometrical. Swedenborg thought "with" books and pens. The reading gave him associations and clues, forced him to interpret, and gave him material for his intellectual development.

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Hardcover